Abstract:
An apparatus and method to automatically secure a chassis to a rackmount rail. The apparatus includes a pin operably attached to a chassis and an aperture disposed within a rackmount rail to receive the pin. The pin is attached to the chassis such that the pin automatically protrudes from the chassis upon inserting a component into the chassis. The aperture automatically receives the pin to secure the chassis. Removing the component from the chassis automatically disengages the pin from the aperture to release the chassis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to rack-mounted systems. Specifically, the invention relates to systems and methods for automatically securing a rackmount chassis to a rackmount rail. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Electronics racks are commonly used to house sophisticated electronic equipment, such as telecommunications equipment and computer systems. An electronic rack provides a highly modular mounting system that may be customized to accommodate any particular need or electronic component while maintaining electronic equipment in an efficient and orderly manner. An electronics rack thus optimizes electronic equipment storage, maximizing computing power relative to required storage space. 
         [0005]    Electronic components are typically housed in a chassis standardized to fit an electronics rack. The chassis may be set on stationary rails within the rack or on slides attached to the rack, and secured by bolts driven through its front panel into vertical rack mounting strips. While this method of attachment may prevent the chassis from sliding off the rails, rotational vibration from system operation may cause vibration frequencies capable of damaging sensitive electronic components. 
         [0006]    Tie-down methods exist to further secure the chassis and prevent damage to sensitive electronic components. Screws, for example, may be driven through the chassis and into the rear of the rack&#39;s mounting rails. Manually installing such screws, however, is a tedious task that often results in screws being dropped and lost into the rear of the rack. Screw installation is also inefficient as it requires an extra step at install time, as well as an extra tool—a screwdriver. Indeed, a screw used for rear tie-down must recess out of the way so that nearby components can be easily removed and/or installed for service or upgrade. A flat head screw, and a screwdriver for installation and removal, is thus required. The difficulty and inconvenience of the added tools and time necessary to install rear tie-down screws often hinders their use and effectiveness. 
         [0007]    While tool-less fasteners are available to facilitate rear tie-down methods, such fasteners tend to obstruct access to internal components. Accordingly, the fasteners must be removed before certain components may be serviced, and replaced following servicing. This both complicates the servicing process and increases the likelihood that the rear tie-down step may be inadvertently overlooked following servicing, rendering internal components vulnerable to damage from vibration frequencies. 
         [0008]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus and method to automatically secure a rackmount chassis to a rackmount rail while avoiding obstruction of internal chassis components. Beneficially, such an apparatus and method would promote efficient chassis and chassis component installation, facilitate quick and easy component servicing and upgrades, and reliably secure the chassis to the rail. Such an apparatus and method are disclosed and claimed herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been met for securing a chassis to a rackmount rail. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus and method for automatically securing a chassis to a rackmount rail that overcomes many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. 
         [0010]    An apparatus to automatically secure a chassis to a rackmount rail according to the present invention may include a pin attached to the chassis and a mating aperture disposed within a rackmount rail. The pin may be adapted to protrude from the chassis upon inserting a component into the chassis. The aperture may automatically receive the pin to secure the chassis. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, a biasing member operably attaches the pin to the chassis. An access aperture may be disposed within the chassis such that the pin automatically protrudes through the access aperture upon inserting a component into the chassis. 
         [0012]    A method of the present invention is also presented for automatically securing a chassis to a rackmount rail. In one embodiment, the method includes operably attaching a pin to a chassis, wherein the pin automatically protrudes from the chassis upon inserting a component into the chassis. The method further includes disposing within a rackmount rail an aperture to receive the pin and secure the chassis. 
         [0013]    As in the apparatus, a biasing member may operably attach the pin to the chassis. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise integrating within the chassis an access aperture, wherein the pin automatically protrudes through the access aperture upon inserting the component into the chassis. 
         [0014]    Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
         [0016]    These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a chassis having a chassis attachment device incorporated therein in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the chassis of  FIG. 1A , where the power supply has been installed to automatically actuate the chassis attachment device incorporated therein; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a top cross-sectional view of the chassis attachment device of  FIG. 1A ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  is a top cross-sectional view of the actuated chassis attachment device of  FIG. 2B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention, as presented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. 
         [0023]    Reference throughout this specification to “a select embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “a select embodiment,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
         [0024]    The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the invention as claimed herein. 
         [0025]    As used in this specification, the term “rackmount” refers to equipment designed to fit an industry-standard electronics rack. The term “chassis” refers to a rackmount housing to receive and store one or more electronic components. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to tie down a chassis  108  to a rackmount rail  102  in a standard rack assembly  100 . Particularly, the present invention may automatically secure the chassis  108  to the rackmount rail  102  upon insertion of one or more electronic components  104  into the chassis  108 . 
         [0027]    A rack assembly  100  may be generally defined by vertically disposed mounting strips (not shown) providing vertical support to the rack  100 , and horizontally disposed rackmount rails  102  attached thereto. Rackmount rails  102  may comprise stationary rails, shelves, extendable slides, or any other device known to those in the art capable of supporting electronic equipment within the rack  100 . The rack assembly  100  may yield dimensions substantially conforming to the Electronic Industries Alliance (“EIA”) standard to render the rack  100  highly modular and able to accommodate specific equipment and storage needs. 
         [0028]    A chassis  108  housing electronic equipment components  104  may also yield dimensions substantially conforming to the EIA standard, thereby maximizing flexibility of use within the rack  100 . The chassis  108  may be inserted into the rack  100  and supported by one or more rackmount rails  102 . In some embodiments, a bolt or other fastener (not shown) known to those in the art may be implemented to secure the installed chassis  108  to the vertical mounting strip. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , the chassis  108  may house electronic components  104  including, for example, telecommunications equipment and/or computer system components such as data storage devices, servers, printers, displays, computer networking nodes, and the like. In certain embodiments, the chassis  108  may further house a Customer Replaceable Unit (“CRU”)  106  such as a power supply, CD/ROM, floppy drive, memory, fan, switch box, or any other easily replaceable component known to those in the art. 
         [0030]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, the chassis  108  may include a substantially elongate pin  110  operably attached to a wall  112  thereof. The pin  110  may engage an aperture (not shown) disposed within the rackmount rail  102  to automatically secure the chassis  108  to the rackmount rail  102 , as discussed in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  below. The pin  110  may be substantially cylindrical, or may comprise any cross-sectional shape known to those in the art. 
         [0031]    In certain embodiments, a spring or other biasing member  116  may operably attach the pin  110  to the chassis  108 . The biasing member  116  may be pre-loaded to maintain the pin  110  at a position distanced from the wall  112  absent an application of force thereto. Alternatively, the biasing member  116  may maintain the pin  110  at a position substantially corresponding to the wall  112 . In one embodiment the wall  16  may include an access aperture  120  adapted to accommodate the pin  110 . The biasing member  116  may maintain the pin  110  at a position wherein the pin  110  at least partially penetrates the access aperture  120 . 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the biasing member  116  comprises a substantially elongate, spring-form steel material. One skilled in the art will recognize, of course, that the biasing member  116  may comprise any substantially resilient material adapted to retain the pin  110  in a position substantially perpendicular to the wall  112  of the chassis  108 . The biasing member  116  may exhibit a substantially slim profile such that an application of force may substantially align the biasing member  116  with the wall  112  and thereby minimize interference with surrounding architecture. 
         [0033]    In certain embodiments, one end  118   a  of the biasing member  116  may be attached to an inside surface of the wall  116  such that the opposite end  118   b  is biased substantially away from the wall  112 . The pin  110  may extend substantially perpendicularly from the end  118   b  of the biasing member  116 . In this manner, the biasing member  116  may retain the pin  110  in a position substantially perpendicular to the wall  112  of the chassis  108 . 
         [0034]    An application of force to the biasing member  116  may force the pin  110  to protrude from the chassis  108  and engage an aperture (not shown) in the rackmount rail  102 , as discussed in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B . In some embodiments, a CRU  106  may be inserted into a channel  114  within the chassis  108  such that the CRU  106  exerts a substantially lateral force upon the biasing member  116 . As previously mentioned, an access aperture  120  disposed in the wall  112  may permit the pin  110  to protrude therethrough. The pin  110  may then engage a corresponding aperture (not shown) disposed in the rackmount rail  102  to tie down the chassis  108 . In this manner, embodiments of the present invention automate chassis  108  tie-down while obviating the need for tie-down screws or other fasteners that may be difficult to handle and/or may obstruct access to electronic components  104 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , an aperture  200  disposed in the rackmount rail  102  may substantially mirror the cross-sectional shape of the pin  110 . Alternatively, the aperture  202  may comprise any shape known to those in the art having dimensions adapted to accommodate the pin  110 . In certain embodiments, more than one aperture  202  may be integrated into the rail  102  to receive one or more pins  110 . Likewise, an aperture  202  may be disposed within more than one rail  102  to receive a pin  110  in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0036]    The pin  110  may automatically engage and disengage the aperture  202 , thereby automatically securing and releasing the chassis  108  to and from the rail  102 , depending on an application of force to the biasing member  120 . As previously discussed, the biasing member  120  may be disposed within a substantially tight channel  114  adapted to receive a CRU  106 . Accordingly, insertion of the CRU  106  into the channel  114  may effectively actuate the pin  110  to engage the aperture  200 , while removal of the CRU  106  from the channel  114  may cause a substantially concurrent disengagement of the pin  100  from the aperture  200 . 
         [0037]    Specifically, the force applied to the biasing member  116  by the CRU  106  may result in potential energy being stored by the biasing member  116 . This potential energy may remain stored so long as the CRU  106  remains in place. When the CRU  106  is removed, the potential energy may be released and the biasing member  116  may spring back to its original position, thereby disengaging the pin  110  from the aperture  114 . 
         [0038]    Advantageously, implementation of the present invention may not be apparent to a user. As operational components may reside within an interior channel  202  of the chassis  108 , the present invention may go largely unnoticed. Further, actuation of the present invention to secure and release the chassis  108  to and from the rackmount rail  102  may not require any particular effort on the part of the user beyond that ordinarily required to install electronic components  104  within the chassis  108 . The present invention thus enables effective tie-down of sensitive electronic equipment without inconveniencing a user. 
         [0039]    Indeed, insertion of a CRU  106  into a chassis  108  ordinarily must be delayed until the chassis  108  has been initially placed onto the rackmount rails  102 , as the combined weight of the chassis  108  and all internal components  104  including the CRU  106  may be prohibitive. In certain embodiments, however, it may be necessary to instruct the user to delay insertion of the CRU  106  or other actuating component  104  until the chassis  108  has been initially placed on the rails  102 . 
         [0040]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.