Abstract:
An electrical component support structure which supports both standard-conforming and non-standard-conforming electrical components has fixed support structure which supports movable intermediate support structure to which electronic components conforming to a predefined width standards are mounted. The intermediate support structure can be located at a number of locations within the fixed support structure to provide for various arrangements of conforming electronic components and can be configured to support components conforming to more than one predefined standard Electronic components not conforming to a predefined standard are supported on shelves mounted to the fixed support structure, which shelves can be mounted in a number of positions. The conforming telecommunication component includes a mounting panel having first and second vertical edges and panel mounting holes located adjacent each of the first and second vertical side edges.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention pertains to the field of support structures for electronic components, and in particular to support structures for electronic components conforming to a predefined standard. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Electronic components, and telecommunications components in particular, are typically supported in open or enclosed support structures to organize and protect the components. The support structures include spaced-apart, vertically-aligned mounting flanges with a series of mounting holes for mounting the electronic components. The electronic components include panels with mounting slots, which align with the mounting holes in the mounting flanges of the support structures. Therefore, the electronic components can be mounted to the mounting flanges at a number of vertical positions, and a number of electronic components can be mounted to the support structure, in essentially a vertical column. In this manner, the electronic components are rigidly connected to the support structure. 
   Open support structures of such type are commonly called “racks” and may be free-standing and self-supporting, or may be affixed to external support structures (e.g., a floor and/or wall). Enclosed support structures of such type are commonly called “cabinets” and are typically free-standing and self-supporting. Cabinets may include doors and/or side panels, which may or may not be removable. 
   To ensure compatibility between the racks and cabinets and the electronic components (and panels thereof), the Electronics Industries Association (EIA) has published a standard entitled “Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment.” This standard has also been accepted by the American National Standard association and has been designated ANSI/EIA-310-D (1992), and will be referred to herein as the “EIA Standard.” The disclosure of the EIA Standard is incorporated herein by reference. 
   The EIA Standard specifies, among other things, a certain number of acceptable widths for electronic components and the support structure. In particular the EIA Standard specifies the horizontal center-to-center distances between the mounting holes of the mounting flanges of the support structures, and between the mounting slots on either side of the panels of the electronics components (which will be referred to herein as the “mounting hole distance”), such that the mounting panels of the electronics components can be consistently mounted to the mounting flanges. The standard also specifies a customary unit of measure for the height of electronics component panels which is termed a “modular unit” or “U” for short. A “U” is equal to approximately 1.75″ or 44.45 mm. 
   The EIA Standard specifies that the “mounting hole distance” be either 465 mm, 592 mm or 745 mm (within a 6 mm tolerance), which is equivalent to 18.31 in, 23.31 in or 29.33 in (¼ in tolerance). Cabinets and racks which conform to the 465 mm (18.31 in) standard are typically called “19 inch” cabinets (or racks). Cabinets and racks which conform to the 592 m (23.31 in) standard are typically called “23 inch” cabinets (or racks). Similarly, electronics components are commonly designated by the terms “19 inch” or “23 inch”. 
   In addition, EIA Standard specifies the vertical spacing, or pitch, between the mounting holes of the mounting flanges of the support structure. “Universal” spacing requires a repeating sequence of spacing of 15.9 mm, 15.9 mm and 12.7 mm, or ⅝th in, ⅝th in and ½ in. “Wide” spacing requires a repeating sequence of spacing of 31.8 mm and 12.7 mm, or 1¼ in and ½ in. 
   The EIA Standard also specifies the vertical locations of mounting holes in the panels of the electronic components, which locations depend upon the height of the panel (e.g.,  1 U,  2 U . . .  12 U), and depend upon the spacing of the mounting holes of the mounting flanges (either “Universial” or “Wide”). The mounting slots of the panels can be “open” (i.e., extending to the edge of the panels) or “closed” (i.e., holes). “Closed” mounting slots are specified as ovals having a maxiumum horizontal length of 10.3 mm (+/−0.4 mm) and a maximum vertical height of 7.1 mm (+/−0.3 mm). “Open” mounting slots of the panels are specified as having a horizontal depth of 14.7 mm from the edge of the panel and a vertical height of 7.1 mm (+/−0.3 mm). The panels are specified as having a maximum horizontal width of either 482.6 mm, 609.6 mm or 762.0 mm (+/−0.4 mm). 
   Electronic equipment cabinets and racks manufactured according to the EIA Standard are widely used, however, they are limited to providing support for electronic components of one width (e.g., either the 19″ standard or the 23″ standard). 
   The present invention provides a cabinet system which can be easily configured to support electronic components which conform to the width specifications of the EIA Standard (e.g., 19″ or 23″) as well as components which do not conform to the width specifications. For example, a cabinet constructed according to the present invention can be configured to support and house one electronic component conforming with the 19″ width standard (e.g., a network “hub”, a second electronic component conforming with the 23″ standard (e.g., a network cable “patch panel”), and a third electronic component not conforming with any of the width standards (e.g., a “tower-form” network computer server. 
   As described in detail below the cabinet constructed according to the invention includes fixed support structure which supports intermediate support structure to which electronic components conforming to one of the width standards are mounted. The intermediate support structure can be located at a number of locations within the fixed support structure to provide for various arrangements of conforming electronic components and can be configured to support components conforming to more than one of the width specifications of the EIA Standard. Electronic components not conforming to the width specifications are supported on shelves mounted to the fixed support structure, which shelves can be mounted in a number of positions. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a complete understanding of the above and other features of the invention, reference shall be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an perspective, assembly view of an electronic component cabinet constructed according to the invention; and 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fixed support structure and the intermediate support structure of the cabinet of FIG.  1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic component cabinet  10  constructed according to the present invention includes a fixed support structure, generally designated by the element number  12 , which includes fixed vertical support members  14 ,  16 , and fixed horizontal support members  18 ,  20 . 
   The cabinet  10  also has intermediate support structure, generally designated by the element number  34 , which includes intermediate horizontal support members  36 ,  38  and intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42 . The intermediate horizontal and vertical support members can be installed or removed from the cabinet  10  without disturbing the structural integrity of the cabinet  10  or of the fixed support structure  12  thereof. The intermediate support structure  34  can be arranged in a wide variety of configurations as desired by the user to support various combinations of electronic components, some of which conform to the EIA Standard and some of which do not. 
   The fixed horizontal support members  18 ,  20  are interconnected between the vertical support members  14 ,  16 , forming the fixed support structure  12 . The fixed support structure  12  is connected to a frame  22  of the cabinet  10 . The fixed vertical support members  14 ,  16  include mounting holes  24 ,  26  located adjacent inside edges  28 ,  30  thereof. The mounting holes  24 ,  26  comply with the geometric specifications and the vertical spacing specifications of the EIA Standard, and are disposed along substantially the entire length of the fixed vertical support members  14 ,  16 . The horizontal center-to-center distance between the mounting holes  24  of one of the vertical support members  14  and the mounting holes  26  of the opposite vertical support member  16  is substantially greater than the maximum width standard specified by the EIA Standard, and is preferably greater than twice the specified “23 inch” width standard. 
   Preferably, the fixed horizontal support members  18 ,  20  include mounting holes  19 ,  21  adjacent end portions  23 ,  25  thereof, which mounting holes  19 ,  21  comply with the geometric specifications and the vertical spacing specifications of the EIA and align with the mounting holes  24 ,  26  of the fixed vertical support members  14 ,  16 , such that the fixed horizontal support members  18 ,  20  can be readily attached the fixed vertical support members  14 ,  16 . 
   The cabinet  10  preferably includes a shelf  32  mounted to the vertical support members  14 ,  16  for supporting electronic components which exceed the width standards specified by the EIA Standard, or for supporting electronic components which lack a mounting plate and are therefore not “rack-mountable.” 
   The intermediate horizontal support members  36 ,  38  are interconnected between the fixed vertical support members  14 ,  16 . Preferably, the intermediate horizontal support members  36 ,  38  include mounting holes  44 ,  46  located adjacent end portions  48 ,  50  thereof, which mounting holes  44  comply with the geometric specifications and the vertical spacing specifications of the EIA Standard and align with the mounting holes  24 ,  26  of the fixed vertical support members  14 ,  16 . Thus, the intermediate horizontal support members  36 ,  38  can be attached to the fixed support structure in a convenient manner and in a plurality of vertical locations. The intermediate horizontal support members  36 ,  38  also include a plurality of sets of pre-formed attachment holes  52 ,  54 , located adjacent a center portion  56  thereof, for attachment of the intermediate vertical support members  40 , 42 . 
   The intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42  include mounting holes  58 ,  60  located adjacent inside edges  62 ,  64  thereof. The mounting holes  58 ,  60  comply with the geometric specifications and the vertical spacing specifications of the EIA Standard, and are disposed along substantially the entire length of the intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42 . As shown, the intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42  can also include wire management apparatus mounting holes  66 . 
   Preferably, the pre-formed attachment holes  52 ,  54 , located adjacent the center portion  56  of the intermediate horizontal support members  36 ,  38  comply with the geometric specifications and the vertical spacing specifications of the EIA Standard such that the pre-formed attachment holes  52 ,  54  can be used to attach the intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42  to the intermediate horizontal support members  36 ,  38  via the mounting holes  58 ,  60  in the intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42 . 
   The intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42  can be attached, at one end, to one of the intermediate horizontal support members, and at the other end, to either a second intermediate horizontal support member (not shown) or to one of the fixed horizontal support members (as depicted in the drawings). In either case, the intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42  are affixed in a substantially vertical orientation, parallel to the fixed vertical support members. Preferably, the intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42  are provided in predetermined, graduated lengths substantially equal to integer multiples of the “modular unit” (“U”) of the EIA Standard, for example in length substantially equal to  4 U,  7 U,  14 U, etc. 
   A first (outer) set of pre-formed attachment holes  52  of the intermediate horizontal members are located such that, when an intermediate vertical support member  40 ,  42  is attached thereto, a horizontal center-to-center distance between the mounting holes  24 ,  26  an associated fixed vertical support member  14 ,  16  and the mounting holes  58 ,  60  the intermediate vertical support member  40 ,  42  is substantially equal to a first one of the predetermined mounting hole distances of the EIA Standard (e.g., the “19 inch” standard). Likewise, a second (inner) set of pre-formed attachment holes  54  of the intermediate horizontal members are located such that, when an intermediate vertical support member  40 ,  42  is attached thereto, a horizontal center-to-center distance between the mounting holes  24 ,  26  of an associated fixed vertical support member  14 ,  16  and the mounting holes  58 ,  60  the intermediate vertical support member  40 ,  42  is substantially equal to a second one of the predetermined mounting hole distances of the EIA Standard (e.g., the “23 inch” standard). The fixed horizontal support members  18 ,  20  include pre-formed attachment holes  62 ,  64  substantially identical to those of the intermediate horizontal support members. As can be appreciated, the pre-formed attachment holes of the fixed, and intermediate horizontal support members allow the intermediate vertical support members  40 ,  42  to be mounted thereto at the proper location with ease and consistency. 
   In use, the fixed support structure  12  of the cabinet  10  is substantially permanently connected to a frame  22  of the cabinet  10  and is intended to remain unchanged. It is intended that the intermediate support structure  34  be changed and configured by the user as desired to adapt the cabinet  10  to support both conforming and non-conforming electronic components. To support electronic components which do not conform to the EIA Standard, such as wide-format computer network server (such as a parallel-processor server), the user can attached a (full-width) shelf  32  between the fixed vertical support members  14 ,  16 , thereby providing a relatively wide support base for the non-conforming component. To support a rack-mountable electronic component (such as a computer network “concentrator” having a standard-conforming face panel) in the same cabinet, the user can install an intermediate horizontal support member between the fixed vertical support member, and then attach an intermediate vertical support member at the appropriate location, to provide properly-spaced mounting holes for mounting the conforming component. As shown, multiple intermediate horizontal support members and intermediate vertical support members can be used to provide a plurality of locations to mount standard-conforming components. 
   As depicted, it is possible to include many other types of support structure in a cabinet constructed according to the invention, including a relatively narrow shelf  68  mounted between an intermediate vertical support member and a fixed vertical support member, drawers mounted underneath the intermediate horizontal support members, and sliding shelves. 
   It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Specifically, the example of the invention described in the above disclosure is that of a cabinet. However, it is intended that the present invention is equally applicable to rack-type structures, whether free-standing or affixed to external supporting structure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.