Patent Publication Number: US-7895785-B2

Title: Detachable tag for labeling electronics systems

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to identification tags, and more particularly, this invention relates to identification tags for electronics systems. 
     Many users of electronics systems and equipment would benefit from the use of asset and/or classification tags, typically adhesive labels, which could be placed on their systems for inventory and/or identification purposes. These tags could be placed on an electronics system in a readily visible area, usually on the front surface. Systems with a small form factor, such as blade servers, however, do not have sufficient front surface area to place the tags. 
     Therefore, many users of small form factor systems, such as blade servers, are compelled to place the tags on perforated bezel areas. This practice however interferes with the airflow available to the system and creates the possibility of component damage due to thermal design parameters being exceeded. On blade centers, there is an area provided on the chassis above the individual blade slots for a tag. This area is about 1″×⅛″ in size. This space is too small to accommodate the most widely used standardized adhesive printable labels. One such standardized adhesive label measures 1⅞″×⅝″. At least one expert in server design has stated that when a customer puts a label on a (IBM BLADE SERVER) perforated bezel, “it is almost guaranteed that they are having localized impact on some of the components inside the blade themselves.” 
     Accordingly, a tag which can be used to identify individual electronics systems, including blade servers without substantially impacting airflow to the components of the electronics systems would be very beneficial to users of electronics systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a tag includes a substantially flat portion having two faces and a length and a height, wherein the length is between about 1 inch and about 2½ inches. The height is between about ⅜ inch and about 1 inch. The tag also includes at least one first member coupled to the flat portion and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane normal to a plane of the flat portion, the at least one first member being adapted for mounting in an opening of a surface of an electronics system thereby creating a removable coupling between the at least one first member and the surface of an electronics system when mounted. 
     In another embodiment, a tag includes a substantially flat portion having two faces and a length and a height. The length is about 2 inches and the height is about ¾ inch: The tag also includes two members coupled to the flat portion and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane of the flat portion. The angle from which the two members extend away from the flat portion is adjustable and the members are adapted for mounting in an opening of a perforated bezel of an IBM BLADE SERVER thereby creating a removable coupling between the members and the IBM BLADE SERVER when mounted. The two members are positioned near either end of the flat portion along the length and the flat portion has a recessed section between the two members, the recess extending away from a plane of the IBM BLADE SERVER. The removable coupling is effected without access to a rear side of the perforated bezel of the IBM BLADE SERVER and without use of any tools or hardware and the two members when coupled to an opening of the perforated bezel of the IBM BLADE SERVER do not block a portion of the opening of the perforated bezel of the IBM BLADE SERVER. 
     In another embodiment, a tag includes a substantially flat portion having two faces, wherein each face is large enough to adhere a standard 1⅞ inch by ⅝ inch adhesive label without overhang. Also, the tag includes two members coupled to the flat portion and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane of the flat portion, the two members being adapted for mounting in an opening of a second surface thereby creating a removable coupling between the two members and the second surface when mounted. The two members are positioned near either end of an edge of the flat portion and the flat portion has a recessed section between the two members, the recess extending away from a plane of the second surface. The removable coupling is effected without access to a rear side of the second surface and without use of any tools or hardware. 
     Any of these embodiments may be implemented in a computer system, server system, electronics system, etc., which may include a grill, bezel, and/or ventilation grating portion. 
     Other aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of a front view of a tag coupled to an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of a side view of a tag coupled to an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate surfaces of electronics systems according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3A  shows a schematic diagram of a side view of a member for coupling a tag to a surface of an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  shows a schematic diagram of a front view of a member for coupling a tag to a surface of an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3C  shows a schematic diagram of a side view of a member for coupling a tag to a surface of an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3D  shows a schematic diagram of a front view of a member for coupling a tag to a surface of an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3E  shows a schematic diagram of a side view of a member for coupling a tag to a surface of an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3F  shows a schematic diagram of a front view of a member for coupling a tag to a surface of an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4A  shows a side view of a removable tag according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4B  shows an enlarged view taken from line  4 B in  FIG. 4A  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4C  is a schematic diagram of a front view of a flexed tag for coupling to an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4D  shows an enlarged view from an opposite side of a coupling device according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4E  is a schematic diagram of a front view of a tag coupled to an electronics system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4F  shows an enlarged view from an opposite side of a coupling device according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular features described herein can be used in combination with other described features in each of the various possible combinations and permutations. 
     Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be given their broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc. 
     It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless otherwise specified. 
     The following description discloses several preferred embodiments of labeling systems, as well as operation and/or component parts thereof. 
     In one general embodiment, a tag includes a substantially flat portion having two faces and a length and a height, wherein the length is between about 1 inch and about 2½ inches, wherein the height is between about ⅜ inch and about 1 inch; and at least one first member coupled to the flat portion and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane normal to a plane of the flat portion, the at least one first member being adapted for mounting in an opening of a surface of an electronics system thereby creating a removable coupling between the at least one first member and the surface of an electronics system when mounted. 
     In another general embodiment, a tag comprises a substantially flat portion having two faces and a length and a height, wherein the length is about 2 inches, wherein the height is about ¾ inch; and two members coupled to the flat portion and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane of the flat portion, wherein the angle from which the two members extend away from the flat portion is adjustable, wherein the members are adapted for mounting in an opening of a perforated bezel of an IBM Blade Server thereby creating a removable coupling between the members and the IBM Blade Server when mounted, wherein the two members are positioned near either end of the flat portion along the length, wherein the flat portion has a recessed section between the two members, the recess extending away from a plane of the IBM Blade Server, wherein the removable coupling is effected without access to a rear side of the perforated bezel of the IBM Blade Server and without use of any tools or hardware, wherein the two members when coupled to an opening of the perforated bezel of the IBM Blade Server do not block a portion of the opening of the perforated bezel of the IBM Blade Server. 
     In another general embodiment, a tag comprises a substantially flat portion having two faces, wherein each face is large enough to adhere a standard 1⅞ inch by ⅝ inch adhesive label without overhang; and two members coupled to the flat portion and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane of the flat portion, the two members being adapted for mounting in an opening of a second surface thereby creating a removable coupling between the two members and the second surface when mounted, wherein the two members are positioned near either end of an edge of the flat portion, wherein the flat portion has a recessed section between the two members, the recess extending away from a plane of the second surface, wherein the removable coupling is effected without access to a rear side of the second surface and without use of any tools or hardware. 
     In some preferred embodiments, a clip-on plate may be provided for customer labeling that fits IBM blade server perforations. The plate may accommodate up to two standard 1⅞″×⅝″ labels, one on either side of the flat portion of the plate. The plate preferably may present negligible disruption of airflow to the system. The plate may be used across all IBM systems that have similar perforated areas, along with any other electronics system that includes similarly sized and spaced perforations. In addition, other clip-on plates may be provided which have adjustable attachment points so as to fit even more electronics equipment, including servers from other manufacturers, such as HEWLETT-PACKARD, DELL, etc. With system form factors continually decreasing in size, a solution for customer asset tagging which does not restrict airflow to crucial system components is a welcome addition to customer site server rooms. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a tag  110  coupled to a surface  106  of an electronics system  100 .  FIG. 1A  shows the tag when the surface of the electronics system is viewed straight on, while  FIG. 1B  shows the tag when the surface of the electronics system is viewed from the side. 
     In  FIG. 1A , a tag  110  is shown comprised of a substantially flat portion  104  and two members  102  which are adapted for mounting in an opening  108  of a surface  106  of an electronics system  100  thereby creating a removable coupling between the two members  102  and the surface  106  of the electronics system  100  when mounted. Of course, in some embodiments, only one member  102  may be adapted for mounting in an opening  108  of a surface  106  of an electronics system  100 . In some more embodiments, more than one member  102  may be included in the tag  110 , such as four members, three members, etc. In these embodiments, one or more of the members may be adapted for mounting in an opening of an electronics system. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the substantially flat portion  104  of the tag  110  has a length α and a height β. In some embodiments, the length α may be between about 1 inch and about 2½ inches, more preferably about 2 inches. In some embodiments, the height β may be between about ⅜ inch and about 1 inch, more preferably about ¾ inch. 
     In some embodiments, the length α and the height β may be large enough so that a standard 1⅞ inch by ⅝ inch adhesive label may be adhered to each face of the flat portion  104  without overhang. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the members  102  are coupled to the flat portion  104  and extend away therefrom at an angle of about 90° to a plane normal to a plane of the flat portion  104 . Of course, the members  102  may extend away from the flat portion  104  at any angle between about 45° and about 135° to a plane normal to a plane of the flat portion  104 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the tag  110  may further comprise two members  102 , wherein the flat portion  104  has a recessed section  114  between the two members  102 , the recess  114  extending away from a plane of the surface  106  of an electronics system  100 . Each of these members  102  may be adapted for mounting in an opening  108  of an electronics system  100 . In some other embodiments, less than all of these members may be adapted for mounting in an opening  108  of an electronics system  100 . 
     In some more embodiments, the tag  110  may further comprise at least one member  102  coupled to the flat portion  104  and extending away therefrom at an angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane normal to a plane of the flat portion  104 , wherein the at least one member  102  does not create a removable coupling when mounted between the at least one member  102  and the surface  106  of an electronics system  100 . For example, the tag  110  may include one member which is adapted to detachably couple to the surface  106  of an electronics system  100 , while another member  102  is not so adapted. Some examples of members which may or may not be adapted include pegs, pins, posts, and any other members as would be known to one of skill in the relevant art. 
     In some approaches, the surface  106  of an electronics system  100  may be a perforated or ventilated portion of a computer server enclosure. In further approaches, the surface  106  of an electronics system  100  is a perforated bezel of an IBM Blade Server. 
     In some preferred embodiments, the tag  110  may be mountable to a surface  106  of an electronics system  100  without access to a rear side  112  of the surface  106  of the electronics system  100 . 
     According to some embodiments, the tag  110  may be removable from a surface  106  of an electronics system  100  without access to a rear side  112  of the surface  106  of the electronics system  100 . 
     In more embodiments, the tag  110  may be mountable to a surface  106  of an electronics system  100  without use of any tools or hardware. Further, the tag  110  may be removable from a surface  106  of an electronics system  100  without use of any tools or hardware. 
     Also, according to some embodiments, one or more members  102  when mounted in an opening of a surface  106  of an electronics system  100 , may not protrude substantially beyond a rear side  112  of the surface  106  of an electronics system  100 . 
     In some embodiments, a member  102  may include a magnetic portion for effecting the removable coupling between the member  102  and the surface  106  of an electronics system  100 . The magnetic portion may be part of the portion which contacts the surface  106  of the electronics system  100 , or may be another portion. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one member  102  coupled to the flat portion  104  may extend away therefrom at an adjustable angle of between about 45° and about 135° to a plane normal to a plane of the flat portion  104 . This allows a user of the tag  110  to select which angle of protrusion is best suited for the installation. 
     Additionally, according to some preferred embodiments, a member  102 , when coupled to an opening  108  of a surface  106  of an electronics system  100  may not block a portion of the opening  108  of the surface  106  of the electronics system  100 . This can be seen in each of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3B ,  3 D and  3 F by the opening  202  which is still present even after insertion of the member  300 ,  310 ,  320  into the hole  202  in the surface  204 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 2A-2C , some additional openings  202  in a surface  204  of an electronics system are shown. In  FIG. 2A , each member  102  is coupled to an opening  202  oriented in vertical slots on a surface  204  of an electronics system. Of course, one or more members may be coupled, while the remaining members do not effect a coupling with the surface. 
     In  FIG. 2B , each member  102  is coupled to an opening  202  oriented in horizontal slots on a surface  204  of an electronics system. Of course, one or more members may be coupled, while the remaining members do not effect a coupling with the surface. Similarly, slots oriented in any direction may be used in conjunction with this invention. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2C , smaller or larger openings  202  in a surface  204  may be used with which to effect a coupling between a member  102  and the opening  202 . Other opening sizes and shapes may also be used, such as squares, rectangles, hexagons, waffle patterns, etc. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3A-3F , some embodiments of members for coupling to an opening of a surface are shown which may be used in conjunction with any embodiment included herein. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3A , in some embodiments, a member  300  may comprise a compressible portion  306  for effecting the removable coupling between the member  300  and the surface  204 . The member  300  may include a portion  304  for supporting the compressible portion  306 . The arrows  302  indicate a direction with which pressure may be applied to effect removal of the member  300  from the surface  204  without access to the rear of the surface. The white headed arrows indicate the direction in which pressure is exerted on the hole  202  and possibly the surface  204  to hold the member  300  in place during use. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3B , which is a side view of the member  300  coupled to the surface  204 , this member  300  allows substantial airflow through the hole  202  when coupled, with very little inhibition of airflow due to the thin size of the wire. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3C , in some embodiments, a member  310  may further comprise a spring post for effecting the removable coupling between the member  310  and the surface  204 . The member  310  may include a portion  304  for supporting the compressible portion  306 . The arrow  302  indicates a direction with which pressure may be applied to effect removal of the member  310  from the surface  204  without access to the rear of the surface. The spring post may simply be pulled away from the surface  204  as the spring portions  306  are shaped to retract when the supporting portion  304  is pulled. The white headed arrows indicate the direction in which pressure is exerted on the hole  202  and possibly the surface  204  to hold the member  310  in place during use. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3D , which is a side view of the member  310  coupled to the surface  204 , this member  310  allows some airflow through the hole  202  when coupled, with some of the hole  202  covered, but some of the hole  202  open for airflow into and out of the electronics system. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3E , in some embodiments, a member  320  may further comprise a bent wire or ribbon  306  for effecting the removable coupling between the member  320  and the surface  204 . The member  320  may include a portion  304  for supporting the compressible portion  306 . The arrow  302  indicates a direction with which pressure may be applied to effect removal of the member  320  from the surface  204  without access to the rear of the surface. The white headed arrows indicate the direction in which pressure is exerted on the hole  202  and possibly the surface  204  to hold the member  300  in place during use. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3F , which is a side view of the member  320  coupled to the surface  204 , this member  320  allows almost uninhibited airflow through the hole  202  when coupled. The airflow is only restricted by the size of the ribbon or wire  306  used. The less the airflow into and out of the hole is inhibited, the better the electronics system will be able to cool itself, an improvement on some prior art methods of coupling a tag to a grill of an electronics system. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 4A-4F , a removable tag  400  may be described according to another embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 4A , the tag  400  may include a surface  402  for placement of a label. Also, the tag  400  may include one or more legs  408 , each leg  408  including a stop flange  404  and a grip flange  406 . Also, there may be an air gap  410  for enabling the flow of air to and from any equipment behind the surface which the tag  400  is mounted to. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 4B , an enlarged view of the end of one of the legs  408  is shown according to one embodiment, taken from line  4 B in  FIG. 4A . The grip flange  406  is smaller than the stop flange  404  in this embodiment, for easier insertion of the grip flange  406  into a hole of a surface. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 4C , a tag  400  is shown according to one embodiment being mounted to a surface  412 . The tag  400  may be flexible, such that it can be flexed to allow the grip flanges  406  on either leg  408  to insert into holes on the surface  412 . As shown in  FIG. 4D , a view from the opposite side of the surface  412 , the grip flange  406  is small enough to fit through the hole in the surface  412  according to one embodiment. The stop flange  404 , however, is too large to fit into the hole of the surface  412 , thus causing the tag  400  to stop when inserted into the hole. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 4E and 4F , the tag  400  is shown mounted to the surface  412 . The tag  400  has straightened out after insertion into the holes according to one approach, but complete straightening out is not required. The tag  400  may still maintain some amount of flex even after being inserted into the holes of the surface  412  according to some embodiments. As can be seen, the grip flange  406  has protruded past the internal surface of the hole such that it can grip the interior surface in one approach. However, in other approaches, the grip flange  406  may remain in the hole, such that it grips the interior surfaces of the hole. Other approaches may include more or less flanges, different shapes of flanges, such as square, rectangular, cylindrical, triangular, etc. Also, the flanges may have different heights and widths, depending on the hole arrangement on the surface for which the tag  400  is to be mounted. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of an embodiment of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.