Abstract:
A method and apparatus for securing a tray within a computer component rack is disclosed. The tray slidably mounted within the component rack. The tray is anchored to the component rack when in a closed position by at least one fastener. A cover is mounted a front face of the tray. The cover includes within its structure a locking mechanism, which prevents access through an access port to the at least one fastener while in a locked position, and allows access through the access port to the at least one fastener while in an unlocked position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a computer component rack and more particularly to a system for locking an individual tray mounted within a computer component rack. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Where there is a demand for multiple computer components in compact areas, component racks are often provided for slidably mounting components. Each component typically is attached to a tray, and the tray is positioned in the rack where it is able to captively slide. If a user needs to gain access to a particular component, the tray is slid out of the component rack, providing the desired access. Once the user is finished with the component, the tray is slid back into the component rack. Often threaded fasteners (such as, e.g., screws) secure the tray to the rack in a closed position. However, this approach poses a security risk as any party with a screwdriver can open the rack tray by unscrewing the fasteners and pulling out the tray. Once the tray is pulled out, the party has full access to the component stored in the tray, and the party may remove such components at will. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an apparatus and system for better securing the tray in the closed position within the component rack. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The following briefly describes some embodiments of the present invention. A locking cover is provided for a component rack. At least one lock mechanism is mounted within the cover. There is also a track for supporting a sliding security plate. The lock mechanism couples with the sliding security plate, such that when activated, the lock mechanism extends the sliding security plate laterally from an end of the cover to block an access aperture, and thus access to one or more fasteners holding the tray in place. 
   Embodiments of the locking cover in example applications include the use of the cover in the following scenarios as an element of a locking system for a component rack. The rack has within it a slidably mounted tray. The tray anchors to the component rack in a closed position with at least one fastener. In general, removal of the tray typically requires access to and removal of at least one fastener. A cover mounts to the tray. The cover includes within its structure a locking mechanism. The general functional requirement of the locking mechanism is that it prevents access through an access port to at least one fastener while in a locked position, and allows access through the access port to the at least one fastener while in an unlocked position. 
   According to one aspect of the invention, the fastener is a threaded fastener, such as a screw or bolt. 
   According to one aspect of the invention, the locking mechanism is a key lock. The internal workings of the key lock include a pawl, a track, and a sliding security plate, such that when the key lock rotates toward a locked position, the pawl slides the security plate along the track. This action covers the at least one fastener anchoring the tray. 
   In two further embodiments of the invention, the locking mechanism is either a combination lock, or a padlock. 
   The position of the actual locking mechanism can vary. The locking mechanism can reside at one end of the cover, proximal to the at least one fastener. Alternatively, the locking mechanism can reside distal from the at least one fastener, in which case the sliding security plate extends to cover the fastener or fasteners. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, the tray anchors to the component rack with two threaded fasteners proximal to a first end of the cover. The tray could additionally be anchored to the component rack with at least one threaded fastener proximal to a second end of the cover, if desired. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the cover forms a handle for pulling and pushing the tray in and out of the component rack. Both the cover and the security plate could be made of any number of materials including plastic and metal. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The aforementioned features and advantages, and other features and aspects of the present invention, will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tray and lockable cover according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a single rack containing multiple components and a single cover according one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a cutout portion of a rack and cover according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of one end of a cover according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of internal workings at one end of the cover according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of additional lock configurations to additional embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is yet another perspective view of a lock mechanism and cover according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is still another perspective view of another lock configuration and cover according to an additional embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes a cover  10  for a tray  14  of a computer component rack  12 . The cover  10  mounts to a front facing side of the tray  14 , which slides in and out of the component rack  12 . The structure of the cover  10  lends itself to being used as a handle for moving the tray  14 . The trays  14  are often removably fastened to the component racks  12  in closed positions by threaded fasteners  28 . An added feature of the cover  10  is that it includes a locking mechanism  16 , which inhibits access to the threaded fasteners  28  when in a locked position. 
   Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout,  FIGS. 1–8  illustrate example embodiments of a locking system for a component rack according to the present invention. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the example embodiments illustrated in the figures it should be understood that the present invention can be embodied in many alternative forms of embodiment. In addition, any suitable size, shape, or type of elements or materials could be utilized. 
   According to one embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 1  shows the tray  14  for holding one or more components  30 . The tray  14  is made of a suitable material, such as, e.g., steel or plastic. The tray  14  is sized and shaped to hold components manufactured by, e.g., Sun Microsystems, Inc., and fit within a component rack  12  ( FIG. 2 ). A cover  10  mounts along a front facing portion of the tray  14 . As illustrated, the cover  10  extends the length of the tray  14  face. However, the cover  10  need not extend in this manner. The cover  10  can mount to merely a portion of the face of the tray  14 , thus being shorter in length. 
   A key lock  20 , for securely locking the tray  14 , resides within the cover  10 . There is an access port  18  at one end of the cover  10 . The access port  18  provides access to a threaded fastener or fasteners  28 , which removably fasten the tray  14  in a closed position. Through internal workings of the key lock  20 , as discussed at a later point herein, when a user inserts a key (not shown) into the key lock  20  and rotates the key, a sliding security plate  26  moves in a lateral direction between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the sliding security plate  26  substantially covers access port  18  ( FIG. 2 ) and threaded fastener  28 . As a result, the threaded fastener  28  is no longer accessible via that access port  18 . The security plate  26  is shown as a solid metal plate. However, it may be of a porous nature, meshed, grided, perforated, or other configuration, so long as it maintains the required strength and rigidity to serve as a significant hindrence to the access port  18 . The security plate  26  can also be of another material, such as, e.g., polymeric materials like plastic or composite, or ceramic materials. Further, the security plate  26  could slide laterally, or alternatively move in other ways such as sliding vertically, rotating, pivoting, or even closing in from multiple directions as separate pieces. Even further, the shape of the security plate  26  can vary from the straight rectangular shape, to a square, triangle, pentagon, octagon, etc., in planar, and non-planar variations. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates one application of the present invention where multiple components  30  mount within a component rack  12 . These components  30  may include a variety of items. For example, each component  30  may be computer-related hardware, a fan, a group of fans, a data storage device, or an electronic device. A tray  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , supports each of the components  30 . The tray  14  shown is merely an example of a relatively standard type of tray utilized in the computer industry. It has four walls and a floor. The side walls include bearings that allow the sides to slidingly extend and retract. In various locations throughout the tray  14 , there are a plurality of mounting edges and apertures for fixing the tray  14  within a structure in various ways. Multiple other variations of trays  14  are possible. Each of the trays  14  anchors to the component rack  12  in a closed position with at least one threaded fastener  28 . A cover  10  resides on a front facing side of the tray  14  that is accessible by the user and that allows the user to install and remove trays  14  as desired. 
   In one embodiment, the cover  10  mounts to the front facing side of the tray  14  with four screws (not shown). The screws are attached through a back side of the front facing side of the tray  14  and are screwed into a backside of the cover  10 . Thus, if the tray  14  is in a closed and locked position, there is no access to the screws to unscrew and remove the cover  10 . To gain access to the screws, one must be able to pull open the tray  14  and reach around to the back side of the front facing side of the tray  14 . 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the cover  10  has the additional feature of being shaped in the form of a handle to assist the user in the extension and retraction of a tray  14 . When the user desires to stow the tray  14 , the user places his or her hand around the cover and exerts the required force on the cover  10  to retract the tray  14  into a closed position. Alternatively, when the user desires to gain access to the contents of the tray  14 , the user grabs on to the handle structure of the cover  10  and pulls the tray  14  outward from the rack  12 . 
   The locking mechanism  16  resides at one end of the cover  10 , such that when rotated, the sliding security plate  26  extends over a portion of the tray  14  and the component rack  12 , covering the access port  18  to the threaded fastener  28 . Thus, a screwdriver cannot be used to remove the threaded fastener  28 . 
   The number and type of fasteners employed in practicing the present invention can vary. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , there may be multiple threaded fasteners  28  provided to anchor the tray  14  in a closed position. Alternatively, clip-type fasteners, squeeze fasteners, rotate-to-lock fasteners, shaft-and-pin fasteners, and myriad other removable fasteners in any number may be utilized to anchor tray  14  in place as desired, so long as the sliding security plate  26  can extend across the access port  18 , blocking access to the fastener as desired. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the end of the cover  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the internal components of the locking mechanism function as follows. A user first inserts a key (not shown) into key lock  20 . The key lock  20  couples to a pawl  22 , which in turn couples to the sliding security plate  26 . As the user rotates the key lock  20 , the rotational energy translates to the pawl  22  which moves the sliding security plate  26  in a lateral direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the key lock  20 . In a first rotational direction (e.g., in the direction of arrow A in  FIG. 5 ), the sliding security plate  26  laterally moves to cover the access port  18 . Once in a fully extended (“locked”) position, the sliding security plate  26  substantially covers the threaded fastener  28  (or fasteners), inhibiting access to the threaded fastener  28 . A track  24  provides the required support for the sliding security plate  26  to sufficiently position and hold the sliding security plate  26  in place. In practice, at such time, the user then removes the key from the key lock  20  leaving the cover  10  and sliding security plate  26  in a closed and locked position. The sliding security plate  26  blocks access to the threaded fastener  28 , thus inhibiting a potential infiltrator from removing the threaded fastener  28  and gaining unauthorized access to the tray  14  and components  30 . 
   If the user desires to gain access to the tray  14  and the particular component  30  stored within, the procedure just described is reversed. The user inserts a key into the key lock  20  and rotates the key lock  20  in a second rotational direction (e.g., in the direction of arrow B in  FIG. 5 ). This causes the pawl  22  to retract the sliding security plate  26  until the sliding security plate  26  fully retracts and access to the threaded fastener  28  is once again available through access port  18 . At such time, the user then proceeds with the removal of the particular fastener or fasteners  28  anchoring the tray  14  in place, and pulls out the tray  14 . 
   The position and number of the locking mechanism  16  can also vary. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , there may be multiple locking mechanisms  16  located at either end of the cover  10 . Alternatively, a single locking mechanism  16  may be positioned in a more central location along the cover  10 . In such an instance, the internal lock workings include a pawl  22  that couples to a longer sliding security plate  26  such that the end of the sliding security plate  26  can extend to the access port  18  and cover the threaded fastener  28  as desired. The locking mechanism  16  may also be positioned such that the sliding security plate  26  can extend beyond the fasteners to engage with the component rack  12  and hold the tray  14  in place in addition to blocking access to the fasteners  28 . 
   Further, the type of locking mechanism  16  may also vary. For example, according to  FIG. 7 , the locking mechanism may be in the form of a combination lock  21 . To gain access to the tray  14 , the user would first enter in the required combination, then slide the sliding security plate  26  until the access port  18  reveals the particular fastener or fasteners  28 . Again, the user would remove the fastener or fasteners  28  and pull out the tray  14 . 
   In still another variation of locking mechanism,  FIG. 8  depicts a locking mechanism  16  in the form of a padlock  32 . In this figure, on the left side of the cover  10  illustrates the lock mechanism with the padlock removed, while on the right side of the cover  10  the illustration shows the padlock  32  locking the sliding security plate  26  in place. One should note that the use of two locking mechanisms, one on either end of the cover  10 , while possible, is not a requirement and is merely for illustrative purposes only to show the locked and unlocked positions in a padlock-based mechanism. To gain access to a tray  14  with this form of lock, the user first unlocks and removes the padlock  32 . Then the user then slides the security plate  26  by the lock aperture  34  until the access port  18  reveals itself. To lock the cover  10 , the user slides the security plate  26  over access port  18 , joining the lock holes  34 . The user then threads the padlock  32  through the lock apertures  34  and locks the padlock  32 , thus locking the cover  10 . 
   Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the invention. Details of the structure may vary substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and exclusive use of all modifications that come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. It is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.