Abstract:
A bracket assembly for electronic equipment support structures having an elongated main body, a mounting tab extending from a first edge of the main body, and first and second mounting arms extending from a second edge of the main body, opposite the first edge. The mounting tab has an aperture formed therethrough. The first mounting arm is positioned adjacent a first end of the main body and extends generally perpendicular to the main body and the mounting tab and the second mounting arm is positioned adjacent a second end of the main body, opposite the first end, and also extends generally perpendicular to the main body and the mounting tab. The bracket assembly can be mounted to a vertically oriented member of an electronic equipment support structure by: mounting the bracket assembly to the vertically oriented member; positioning the rack mountable equipment adjacent and generally parallel to the vertically oriented member such that the equipment is in a generally vertical orientation; and connecting the rack mountable equipment to the bracket assembly between opposing mounting arms of the bracket assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/970,293, filed Sep. 6, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/949,413, filed Jul. 12, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to apparatus for mounting rack mountable equipment/accessories to electronic equipment support structures and, more particularly, to grounded brackets for vertically mounting the rack mountable equipment/accessories. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Typically, rack mountable equipment/accessories, such as patch panels, power distribution units (PDUs), switches, etc., are mounted within usable rack units (RUs) near the top of electronic equipment support structures, such as network cabinets, server cabinets, and 4 post racks. However, mounting the equipment/accessories in this manner has various drawbacks. For example, horizontally-mounted equipment/accessories occupy RUs that could be used for additional electronic equipment. In addition, by mounting the equipment/accessories near the top of the structure, patch cords that run between the equipment/accessories and other electronic equipment, such as servers, must be routed from the equipment/accessory horizontally to the side of the structure, vertically up the side of the structure, and horizontally over to the other equipment. To complete this routing can take patch cords from 5 to 9 feet in length to make the required connections. This makes equipment maintenance difficult when patch cords must be removed or replaced. 
         [0004]    Therefore, there is a need for an accessory bracket that allows the mounting of standard rack mountable equipment/accessories, such that the rack mountable equipment/accessory does not occupy usable RUs and patch cord run length is reduced or minimized. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one example, a bracket assembly for electronic equipment support structures has an elongated main body, a mounting tab extending from a first edge of the main body, and first and second mounting arms extending from a second edge of the main body, opposite the first edge. The mounting tab has an aperture formed therethrough. The first mounting arm is positioned adjacent a first end of the main body and extends generally perpendicular to the main body and the mounting tabs and the second mounting arm is positioned adjacent a second end of the main body, opposite the first end, and also extends generally perpendicular to the main body and the mounting tabs. 
         [0006]    In another example, an electronic equipment support structure assembly has an electronic equipment support structure and a bracket assembly. The electronic equipment support structure has a vertically oriented member having a plurality of holes and the bracket assembly is interconnected with the vertically oriented member. The bracket assembly has an elongated main body, a mounting tab extending from the main body, and first and second mounting arms extending from the main body. The elongated main body is positioned adjacent to and generally parallel to the vertically oriented member and the mounting tab has an aperture that is aligned with at least one of the holes formed in the vertically oriented member. The first mounting arm is positioned adjacent a first end of the main body and extends generally perpendicular to the main body and the mounting tabs and away from the vertically oriented member and the second mounting arm is positioned adjacent a second end of the main body, opposite the first end, and extends generally perpendicular to the main body and the mounting tabs and away from the vertically oriented member. 
         [0007]    In another example, a method for mounting rack mountable equipment to an electronic equipment support structure has the steps of: mounting a bracket assembly to a vertically oriented member of the electronic equipment support structure; positioning the rack mountable equipment adjacent and generally parallel to the vertically oriented member such that the equipment is in a generally vertical orientation; and connecting the rack mountable equipment to the bracket assembly between opposing mounting arms of the bracket assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Certain examples of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular examples illustrated herein. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one example of an accessory bracket with a strain relief bar; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the accessory bracket and strain relief bar of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the accessory bracket and strain relief bar of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the accessory bracket and strain relief bar of  FIG. 1  with a patch panel frame; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the accessory bracket, strain relief bar, and patch panel frame of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of a cabinet with multiple accessory brackets mounted therein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial viewer of  FIG. 7   
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of a 4 post rack with multiple accessory brackets mounted therein; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the 4 post rack and accessory brackets of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 11 : 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 12  showing one of the accessory brackets; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a partial side perspective view of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged partial view of  FIG. 12  showing the other accessory bracket; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a partial side perspective view of  FIG. 15 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , one example of an accessory bracket  10  and strain relief bar  50  is shown. In the example shown, bracket  10  is configured to be mounted to the vertical frame rail or equipment rail of an electronic equipment support structure, such as a network cabinet, server cabinet, or 4 post rack, and can support various rack mountable equipment/accessories such as a standard 19-inch EIA patch panel frame, a standard 2-inch wide PDU, or a standard rack mounted switch, in a vertical orientation. The patch panel frame could include fiber adapter panels (FAPs), pre-terminated copper cartridges, six-port adapter fiber optic cassette modules, or other types of connectivity medium. In addition, as described in more detail below, bracket  10  could be extended such that multiple equipment/accessory units could be connected to bracket  10  in various combinations. 
         [0026]    In the example shown, bracket  10  is generally L-shaped, is formed from an electrically conductive material, such as steel or aluminum, and generally has main body  20 , mounting tabs  30  and mounting arms  40 . Main body  20  provides the main support for bracket  10 . In this example, bracket  10  is approximately 4 inches in width, 19⅛ inches in length, with 11/16 inch wide and 2¾ inch long protrusions bent at 90 degrees to the rest of bracket  10  to form mounting arms  40 . 
         [0027]    Mounting tabs  30  extend from one edge of main body  20  and provide a means for connecting bracket  10  to the electronic equipment support structure. In this example, each mounting tab  30  is approximately 1¼ inches in width and 2½ inches in length and has an elongated aperture  32  formed therethrough, which is configured to receive a mounting screw or bolt, as described in more detail below. Alternatively, the spaces between mounting tabs  30  could be eliminated. In other words, the spaces between each of the four mounting tabs  30  could be solid material. However, in this example, the material between the tabs has been removed in order to make bracket  10  lighter and make it possible to nest the blanks (punched-out shape before bending) within the raw material sheet size in order to yield more brackets from the stock material sheet size. Regardless, main body  20  should be at least ¾ inches wide in order to maintain the structural rigidity of bracket  10 . 
         [0028]    In this example, apertures  32  are elongated along the longitudinal axis of the corresponding mounting tab  30  to provide some flexibility in locating bracket  10  during installation. In addition, apertures  32  are also generally vertically aligned (as seen in  FIG. 3 ) between each other such that apertures  32  will axially align with holes formed in the support structure. Alternatively, rather than having elongated apertures or slots  32 , multiple apertures could be formed in each mounting tab  30  to provide multiple mounting options. In addition, in this example, four mounting tabs  30  are shown extending from the edge of main body  20 . However, it will be understood that any number of mounting tabs could be used or one solid mounting tab with multiple apertures could be used. A minimum of two mounting slots or holes are required, but four slots help maintain an electrical ground path (continuity) from the equipment/accessory through bracket  10  to the support structure. 
         [0029]    Mounting arms  40  extend from another edge of main body  20 , opposite mounting tabs  30 , are generally perpendicular to main body  20 , and provide a means for supporting rack mountable electronic equipment/accessories, such as a patch panel frame  60  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), PDU, switch, etc., in a vertical orientation. In this example, each mounting arm  40  is approximately 11/16 inches in width and 2¾ inches in length and has multiple holes  42  formed therethrough. A 2¾ inch long mounting arm  40  will provide a 1½ RU space (plus clearance) for one electronic equipment/accessory unit and one strain relief bar. A 3¾ inch long mounting arm  42  will provide a 2 RU space (plus clearance) that can be used to mount two electronic equipment/accessory units, one unit and up to two strain relief bars, or one unit and one open cable management bar. Holes  42  are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the corresponding mounting arm  40  and are spaced apart from each other such that holes  42  will align with holes  66  formed in a standard patch panel frame  60  (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) or other rack mountable equipment/accessory. Alternatively, rather than having multiple holes  42 , one or more elongated apertures could be formed in each mounting arm  40  to provide more flexibility in mounting various electronic equipment/accessories, such as patch panel frames, PDUs, switches, etc. Holes  42  can be tapped to eliminate the nuts and make assembling the equipment/accessories to bracket  10  easier and less complicated. If nuts are used, it may take two hands to hold the components together before tightening. 
         [0030]    In addition, in the example shown, mounting arms  40  are configured to support one electronic component/accessory and a strain relief bar  50 . However, as discussed above, mounting arms  40  could be extended, and additional holes  42  formed therein, such that multiple electronic components/accessories or combinations thereof could be supported by each bracket  10 . Moreover, an extender bracket can also be used to make the mounting arm longer. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , strain relief bar  50  can also be mounted to bracket  10 . In this example, strain relief bar  50  is formed of an electrically conductive material, such as steel or aluminum, is generally U-shaped, and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as preventing cables from bending at an angle that could damage the cables, helping organize the cables, preventing the cables from getting pulled away from the connectors, and keeping the cables away from parts of the cabinet that can potentially move and pinch the cables. In this example, strain relief bar  50  is approximately 18.98 inches long and 2.81 inches deep, but could be made of varying shapes and sizes depending on the intended use. Elongated apertures  52  are formed in each end of strain relief bar  50  and are configured to be axially aligned with corresponding holes  42  in mounting arms  40  and to receive threaded members, which provides a means for mounting strain relief bar  50  to bracket  10 . 
         [0032]    To mount strain relief bar  50  to bracket  10 , apertures  52  in strain relief bar  50  are aligned with holes  42  in mounting arms  40 . A threaded member, such as a grounding (bond) screw or bolt, is inserted through apertures  52  and into holes  42  in mounting arms  40 . If bolts are used, holes  42  will be configured to receive the threaded member therethrough and a nut will be threaded onto the bolt on the opposite side of mounting arm  40  from strain relief bar  50 . If screws are used, holes  42  will be threaded and the screws will be threaded directly into the holes  42 . 
         [0033]    In the example described herein, strain relief bar  50  is grounded to bracket  10 . Providing a ground path between strain relief bar  50  and bracket  10  can be accomplished in various well-known ways. For example, tri-lobular screws could be used that would form threads in holes  42  and provide a ground path between mounting arms  40  and the tri-lobular screws. To provide a ground path between the tri-lobular screws and strain relief bar  50 , the screws could have serrated edges under the heads of the screws, a star washer could be used between the heads of the screws and strain relief bar  50 , or areas in which the heads of the screws will contact strain relief bar  50  could be masked to exposed the bare metal (if strain relief bar  50  is not painted or coated, the heads of the screws will make direct metal to metal contact and masking is not required). Similarly, if nuts and bolts are used, the nuts and bolts could have serrated edges in the areas that will contact strain relief bar  50  and mounting arms  40 , star washers could be used between the nuts and bolts and strain relief bar  50  and mounting arms  40 , or areas in which the nuts and the heads of the bolts will contact strain relief bar  50  and mounting arms  40  could be masked to expose the bare metal (if strain relief bar  50  and/or mounting arms  40  are not painted or coated, the nuts and bolts will make direct metal to metal contact and masking is not required). A welded, soldered or terminated jumper cable with serrated screw or star washer could also be used. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , exemplary bracket  10  is shown with a standard patch panel frame  60  mounted in a vertical orientation. A standard patch panel frame  60 , such as a 19-inch EIA patch panel frame, is typically 1.72 to 1.73 inches in width and 19 inches in length. A series of openings  62  are formed in frame  60  and are configured to receive various types of components, such as FAPs, pre-terminated copper cartridges, six-port adapter fiber optic cassette modules, etc., as is well-known in the art. Mounting ears  64  extend from the ends of frame  60  and each mounting ear  64  has a hole  66  formed therethrough. As can best be seen in  FIG. 5 , holes  66  in mounting ears  64  are configured to axially align with holes  42  in mounting arms  40  and to receive bolts or screws therethrough to allow the mounting of frame  60  to bracket  10 . 
         [0035]    By using bracket  10  to vertically orient electronic components/accessories on the side of a support structure. RUs that were occupied by electronic components/accessories are now open and can be used for additional electronic equipment. In addition, routing patch cables to the vertically-oriented electronic components/accessories is more efficient and cost effective because shorter cable lengths can be used. For example, by using bracket  10  to mount electronic components/accessories on the side of the support structure, next to other electronic equipment, patch cords as short as 1½ to 2 feet can be used. The use of shorter patch cords also makes equipment maintenance easier when patch cords must be removed or replaced. 
         [0036]    To mount frame  60  to bracket  10 , holes  66  in frame  60  are aligned with holes  42  in mounting arms  40 . A threaded member, such as a screw or bolt, is inserted through holes  66  in frame  60  and into holes  42  in mounting arms  40 . If bolts are used, holes  42  will be configured to receive the threaded member therethrough and a nut will be threaded onto the bolt on the opposite side of mounting arm  40  from frame  60 . If screws are used, holes  42  will be threaded and the screws will be threaded directly into the holes  42 . 
         [0037]    In the example described herein, frame  60  is grounded to bracket  10 . Providing a ground path between frame  60  and bracket  10  can be accomplished in various well-known ways. For example, tri-lobular screws could be used that would form threads in holes  42  and provide a ground path between mounting arms  40  and the tri-lobular screws. To provide a ground path between the tri-lobular screws and frame  60 , the screws could have serrated edges under the heads of the screws, a star washer could be used between the heads of the screws and frame  60 , or areas in which the heads of the screws will contact frame  60  could be masked to expose the bare metal (if frame  60  is not painted or coated, the heads of the screws will make direct metal to metal contact and masking is not required). Similarly, if nuts and bolts are used, the nuts and bolts could have serrated edges in the areas that will contact frame  60  and mounting arms  40 , star washers could be used between the nuts and bolts and frame  60  and mounting arms  40 , or areas in which the nuts and the heads of the bolts will contact frame  60  and mounting arms  40  could be masked to expose the bare metal (if frame  60  and/or mounting arm  40  are not painted or coated, the nuts and bolts will make direct metal to metal contact and masking is not required). 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6-8 , multiple exemplary accessory brackets  10  are shown mounted to the vertical frame rail  72  of an electronic equipment cabinet  70  (in  FIGS. 6-8  the front door, rear door, and side panels of cabinet  70  are not shown to expose the frame of the cabinet). As shown in  FIGS. 6-8  and described herein, cabinet  70  is a network cabinet, such as that shown and described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/467,956; 11/538,884; 11/559,708; 11/623,358; 11/623,839; and 11/683,052, which are incorporated herein by reference. However, it will be understood that bracket  10  can be used with any type of cabinet or other electronic equipment support structure that is adapted to carry electronic equipment, such as servers. Furthermore, rather than mounting bracket  10  to vertical frame rail  72 , bracket  10  could also be mounted to equipment rail  73 , as discussed below, or any other portion of the cabinet support structure desired. 
         [0039]    As can best be seen in  FIG. 8 , to mount bracket  10  to vertical frame rail  72 , apertures  32  in mounting tabs  30  are aligned with holes formed in vertical frame rail  72 . Mounting screws  80  are then inserted through holes  32  in mounting tabs  30  and are threaded into the holes in vertical frame rail  72 . In the example shown, bracket  10  is configured to mount patch panel frame  60  at a maximum distance D of 5⅝ inches from the rear face of vertical frame rail  72 , with patch panel frame  72  facing the front of cabinet  70 . This offset provides a safe zone to allow clearance between the side panel latches and any mounted equipment or cables attached to the mounted patch panel. In addition, the first tapped hole in mounting arm  40  is located approximately 0.578 inches from main body  20  in order to center patch panel frame  60  and strain relief bar  50  in between vertical frame rail  72  and side panel structural supports  74 . 
         [0040]    In addition, in the example shown, bracket  10  is grounded to vertical frame rail  72 . Providing a ground path between bracket  10  and vertical frame rail  72  can be accomplished in various well-known ways. For example, mounting screws  80  could be tri-lobular screws that would form threads in the holes in vertical frame rail  72  and provide a ground path between vertical frame rail  72  and mounting screws  80 . To provide a ground path between mounting screws  80  and bracket  10 , screws  80  could have serrated edges under the heads of screws  80 , a star washer could be used between the heads of screws  80  and bracket  10 , or areas in which the heads of screws  80  will contact bracket  10  could be masked to expose the bare metal (if bracket  10  is not painted or coated, the heads of the screws will make direct metal to metal contact and masking is not required). A welded, soldered or terminated jumper cable with serrated screw or star washer could also be used. 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9-16 , multiple exemplary accessory brackets  10  are shown mounted to the equipment rail  92  of a 4 post rack  90 . Alternatively, rather than mounting bracket  10  to equipment rail  92 , bracket  10  could also be mounted to vertical frame rail  94 , as discussed above, or any other portion of the 4 post rack desired. 
         [0042]    As can best be seen in  FIGS. 12 ,  13 , and  15 , to mount bracket  10  to equipment rail  92 , apertures  32  in mounting tabs  30  are aligned with holes formed in equipment rail  92 . Bolts (not shown) are then inserted through holes  32  in mounting tabs  30  and the holes in equipment rail  92  and a nut is threaded onto the bolt on the opposite side of equipment rail  92  from bracket  10 . 
         [0043]    In addition, in the example shown, bracket  10  is grounded to equipment rail  92 . Providing a ground path between bracket  10  and equipment rail  92  can be accomplished in various well-known ways. For example, the nuts and bolts could have serrated edges in the areas that will contact bracket  10  and equipment rail  92 , star washers could be used between the nuts and bolts and bracket  10  and equipment rail  92 , or areas in which the nuts and the heads of the bolts will contact bracket  10  and equipment rail  92  could be masked to expose the bare metal (if bracket  10  and/or equipment rail  92  are not painted or coated, the nuts and bolts will make direct metal to metal contact and masking is not required).