Abstract:
Cabinet mounting structure where the rear of the cabinet is inaccessible. The structure includes anchors mounted to the rear of the cabinet. A base plate having receptacles secured thereon is installed on a supporting surface. The receptacles are formed with cavities into which the anchors are inserted, thereby holding down the rear of the cabinet. The front of the cabinet is secured to the supporting surface by mounting bolts extending through the cabinet floor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to cabinets holding electronic equipment and, more particularly, to structure for effecting the mounting of such a cabinet. 
     Electronic equipment, particularly telecommunications equipment, is typically installed within a cabinet. In the past, such cabinets were commonly positioned away from walls in order to access the rear of the cabinet. However, providing such rear access is wasteful of floor space. Accordingly, a need has arisen for such cabinets to be positioned either against a wall or back-to-back with other cabinets to provide “front access only” capability, similar to a traditional refrigerator. 
     For telecommunications equipment cabinets, a requirement exists that the cabinet be secured to its supporting surface so that it is capable of withstanding Zone 4 earthquake vibration. In the past, such mounting was typically provided by using four mounting bolts through openings in the cabinet floor. These mounting bolts are located with two toward the front of the cabinet and two toward the rear of the cabinet. The two mounting bolts in the front are easily accessible. However, the two mounting bolts in the rear are not accessible if the cabinet is fully populated with electronics and the cabinet is positioned with its rear against a wall and with other cabinets on both sides of it. Accordingly, a need exists for front access cabinet mounting structure which allows easy installation and access in the field and is capable of satisfying the vibration requirement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided at least one receptacle mounted to the cabinet supporting surface and having at least one cavity open in a direction parallel to the supporting surface. At least one anchor is secured to a side of the cabinet, the anchor having an exterior configuration complementary to a respective cavity. The anchor is located on the cabinet side so that the cabinet can be moved parallel to the supporting surface until the anchor enters the respective cavity. Thus, the receptacles can be mounted adjacent to a wall and the anchors can be mounted to the rear of the cabinet, so that the cabinet can be slid up against the wall so that the anchors are held in the receptacle cavities. Mounting bolts can then be installed in the front of the cabinet. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements in different figures thereof are identified by the same reference numeral and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a cabinet and cabinet mounting structure according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially sectioned, of the inventive base plate and receptacles of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an inventive receptacle of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an inventive receptacle of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an inventive anchor of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  7 — 7  in FIG. 6; and 
     FIG. 8 is a partial rear perspective view of a cabinet and cabinet mounting structure in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a cabinet, designated generally by the reference numeral  10 , having an access door  12  at its front. According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a base plate  14 . The base plate  14  is preferably rectangular in shape, illustratively with a central opening  16 . The base plate  14  may be formed from a ¼″ thick steel plate. 
     Mounted to the base plate  14  are two receptacles  18 . Each of the receptacles  18  is a generally C-shaped block mounted with the open side of the C adjacent to the base plate  14 . This mounting of each receptacle  18  provides a cavity  20  open in a direction parallel to the surface of the base plate  14 . The roof  22  of the cavity  20  is tapered downwardly, as best shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The ends of the receptacles  18  have beveled edges  24 . In addition, the receptacle  18  is formed with a pair of bores  26  which are preferably threaded at their upper ends, as best shown in FIG.  2 . For securing the receptacles  18  to the base plate  14 , the receptacles  18  are placed on the base plate  14  with their beveled edges  24  adjacent to the base plate  14  and the bores  26  aligned with respective openings  28  formed in the base plate  14 . Screws (not shown) are then inserted through the openings  28  and secured to the threaded regions of the bores  26 . The receptacle block  18  is then welded to the base plate  14  along the beveled edges  24 . The screws may then be removed. As an alternative construction, the receptacles  18  and the base plate  14  can be cast as a unitary piece. 
     To cooperate with the receptacles  18 , a pair of blocks  30  are secured to the rear  32  of the cabinet  10 . The block  30  is substantially complementary to the cavity  20  of the receptacle  18 . Thus, the upper surface  34  of the block  30  is tapered downwardly, as best shown in FIG. 7, away from the rear  32  of the cabinet  10 . The block  30  is secured to the rear  32  of the cabinet  10  by screws (not shown) inserted through bores  36  of the block  30 . The pair of blocks  30  are positioned on the rear  32  of the cabinet  10  so that the cabinet  10  can be moved along the base plate  14 , as shown by the arrow  38 , and the blocks  30  enter the cavities  20 . As best shown in FIG. 6, the opposed sides  40 ,  42  of the block  30  are tapered inwardly in the direction away from the rear  32  of the cabinet  10 . This aids in the insertion of the block  30  in the cavity  20  of the receptacle  18 . 
     When a cabinet  10  is to be installed, the base plate  14 , with the receptacles  18  secured thereto, is placed on the supporting surface  70  and secured thereto by mounting bolts, illustratively six in number, extending through the openings  44  in the base plate  14 . The cabinet  10  is then placed on the base plate  14  with its rear  32  facing the receptacles  18 , as shown in FIG. 1, and then moved in the direction of the arrow  38  until the blocks  30  are within the cavities  20  of the respective receptacles  18 . Thus, in the embodiment disclosed herein, the cabinet  10  rests on the base plate  14  when the blocks  30  are within the cavities  20  of the receptacles  18 . In the alternative, the base plate  14  can be made significantly smaller by, for example, cutting it off parallel to the edge  46  of the opening  16 , or the base plate  14  can be eliminated and the receptacles  18  bolted directly to the supporting surface  70 . In any event, after the blocks  30  are seated in the cavities  20 , the front of the cabinet  10  is secured to the supporting surface  70  by means of a mounting bolt  48  which is inserted through an opening  50  in the floor  52  of the cabinet  10  and then through an aligned opening  54  in the base plate  14  for engagement with the supporting surface  70 . Thus, installation of the cabinet  10  is accomplished entirely from the front of the cabinet  10 , even if it is moved up against a wall and there are cabinets on both sides. 
     In situations where there is room behind the cabinet  10 , the block  30  is provided with a vertical bore  56  which can receive a mounting bolt directly therethrough. Thus, even though the cabinet  10  is filled with equipment which prevents access to the rear floor of the cabinet  10 , the use of the blocks  30  still permits a secure mounting of the cabinet  10  to a supporting surface  70 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, blocks  30  have been shown as anchoring devices, fitting in cavities of complementary receptacles  18 . It is understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment shown herein. Other anchor/receptacle pairs are also possible. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, an angle bracket  58  can be secured to the rear  32  of the cabinet  10  to function as the anchor and a clamping bar  60  secured to and spaced from the supporting surface  70  can be utilized as the receptacle. The base plate is optional. The angle bracket  58  is oriented with its side  62  extending outwardly from the cabinet rear  32  parallel to the supporting surface  70  and at a height such that it can be positioned between the bar  60  and the supporting surface  70  and enter the cavities  64 . 
     Accordingly, there has been disclosed improved structure for effecting the mounting of an electronics cabinet in a location where its rear is inaccessible. While an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed herein, it is understood that various adaptations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment are possible, and it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.