Abstract:
A rack includes a rack body, at least one latch member secured to the rack body, and a supporting assembly. The supporting assembly includes at least one sliding lever and a supporting member secured to the at least one sliding lever. The at least one sliding lever is slidably engaged in the at least one latch member and the supporting assembly is extendable and retractable relative to the rack body, to provide a wider base for the rack when required where it rests on the floor, increasing stability and decreasing the likelihood that the rack might topple.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to racks, and particularly to a rack for an electronic apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Computer systems are made up of many separate computer units or servers, which can be positioned and stacked in a rack. The rack only includes a plurality of support columns located on a bottom portion of the rack to support the rack. However, if the rack is very tall and heavy, the rack can be unstable or even dangerous. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric and exploded view of a rack in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is isometric view of a supporting assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from a different aspect. 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled view of the rack of  FIG. 1 , the supporting assembly is located in the first position. 
         FIG. 5  is another assembled view of the rack of  FIG. 1 , the supporting assembly is located in the second position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a rack in accordance with an embodiment. The rack includes a rack body  10 , two latch members  30  secured to the rack body  10 , and a supporting assembly  90 . In one embodiment, the rack is configured to receive electronic devices therein, such as servers. 
     The rack body  10  includes a bottom frame  11 . In one embodiment, the rack body  10  is substantially cubic. A stopping piece  111  is secured to a sidewall of the bottom frame  11 . A stopping hole  1111  is defined in the stopping piece  111 , for securing the supporting assembly  90 . An installation member  13 , secured to the bottom frame  11 , is adjacent to the stopping piece  111 . 
     Each of the two latch members  30  includes a resisting piece  31 , two clipping pieces  33 , two fixing tabs  35 , and a dividing piece  37 . The resisting piece  31 , the two clipping pieces  33 , the two fixing tabs  35 , and the dividing piece  37  cooperatively define a sliding cavity  39 , for receiving the supporting assembly  90 . The two clipping pieces  33  extend upwards from opposite sides of the resisting piece  31 . The two clipping pieces  33  are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the resisting piece  31 . The two fixing tabs  35  extend outwards from the two clipping pieces  33 . Each of the two fixing tabs  35  defines two securing holes  351 . The dividing piece  37  is clipped between the two clipping pieces  33  and is substantially parallel to the resisting piece  31 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , the supporting assembly  90  includes a supporting member  40 , two sliding levers  50 , an elongated blocking plate  60 , and two fixing members  70 . The supporting member  40  includes a connecting plate  43 , two pivot pieces  41 , and a supporting plate  45 . The two pivot pieces  41  are located on opposite sides of the connecting plate  43  and connect the connecting plate  43  to the supporting plate  45 . Each of the two pivot pieces  41  defines a fixing hole  411  corresponding to each fixing member  70 . A pivot post  413  with a pivot hole  4131  is located on each of the two pivot pieces  41 . A fastening piece  433  extends towards the supporting plate  45  from the connecting plate  43 . The fastening piece  433  is substantially L-shaped and defines a fastening hole  4331 . The supporting plate  45  is substantially parallel to the connecting plate  43  and defines a cutout  451  corresponding to the fastening piece  433 . Two protrusions  453  are located on outer surface of the supporting plate  45 , for standing on a ground. 
     Each of the two sliding levers  50  includes a sliding plate  51 , a mounting tab  53 , and a flange  55 . The mounting tab  53  and the flange  55  extend from adjacent sides of the sliding plate  51 . The mounting tab  53  defines a mounting hole  531 , and two engaging members  63  are located on the blocking plate  60 , corresponding to each mounting hole  531 . The two engaging members  63  are screwed into each mounting hole  531 , to secure the blocking plate  60  to the two sliding levers  50 . The flange  55  defines a through hole  5511  corresponding to the fixing hole  411  on a corner of the flange  55 . A rotating hole  5513 , adjacent to the through hole  5511 , is defined in the flange  55 , corresponding to the pivot post  413 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in assembly, the two latch members  30  are secured to the installation member  13 . Two locking members  80  extend through each rotating hole  5513  and each pivot hole  4131 , to secure the supporting member  40  between one end of the two sliding levers  50 . The other ends of each of the two sliding levers  50  are inserted into each sliding cavity  39  of the two latch members  30 . The blocking plate  60  is secured to the other ends of the two sliding levers  50 . 
     The supporting member  40  is pulled out along a first direction to slide the two sliding levers  50 , until the supporting assembly  90  is moved to a first position, where the blocking plate  60  is engaged with the two latch members  30 , and the supporting member  40  is disengaged from the rack body  10 . The supporting member  40  is rotatable around the two locking member  80  relative to the two sliding levers  50 , until the two protrusions  453  abut the ground to provide additional support the rack body  10 , increasing stability and preventing the rack body  10  from toppling. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , to retract the supporting assembly  90 , the supporting member  40  is rotated until each fixing hole  411  is aligned with each through hole  5511 , and each fixing member  70  extends through the through hole  5511  to be locked into the fixing hole  411 , preventing the supporting member  40  from rotating relative to the sliding levers. The supporting member  40  is pushed in along a second direction opposite to the first direction. The supporting assembly  90  is then located in a second position, where the blocking plate  60  is disengaged from each of the two latch members  30 , and the stopping piece  111  extends through the cutout  451  to abut the fastening piece  433 , to align the stopping hole  1111  with the fastening hole  4331 . A thumb screw  100  can be used to secure the supporting assembly  90  to the rack body  10 , to retain the supporting assembly  90  in the retracted state, by extending into the fastening hole  4331  and the stopping hole  1311 . 
     It is to be understood however that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.