Patent Publication Number: US-2019174649-A1

Title: Supporting assembly suitable for rack

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a supporting assembly and more particularly to one for use with a rack. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,903 B1 discloses a rack slide mounting system. As shown in  FIG. 2  accompanying the specification of the US patent, the system includes a first mounting bracket 27 and a second mounting bracket 47. The first mounting bracket 27 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 33, and the second mounting bracket 47 is provided with a plurality of elongated slots 53. The plural studs 31 and 51 on a slide mechanism 21 are passed through the elongated slots respectively and are each connected with a nut 29 or 48 so that the total length to which the first mounting bracket 27 and the second mounting bracket 47 extend can be adjusted, allowing the two mounting brackets to carry a chassis through the slide mechanism 21. The disclosure of the US patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The first mounting bracket 27 and the second mounting bracket 47 of the bracket assembly disclosed in the afore-cited patent are two separate components, but this structural configuration does not always meet market demands. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One objective of the present invention is to provide a supporting assembly whose two brackets are mounted with respect to each other via a supporting frame. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a supporting assembly includes a first bracket, a supporting frame, and a second bracket. The first bracket includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The supporting frame is connected to the first bracket at a position adjacent to the second end portion of the first bracket and has a first supporting section. One of the first bracket and the supporting frame is provided with a second supporting section. The first supporting section and the second supporting section jointly constitute a supporting channel for supporting the second bracket. 
     Preferably, the second bracket is mounted to the first bracket through the supporting channel, and the first bracket and the second bracket include a first mounting member and a second mounting member respectively, wherein the second mounting member is away from the first mounting member. 
     Preferably, the first bracket has a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The first lateral side is provided with a carrying portion while the first supporting section is located on the second lateral side. 
     Preferably, the second supporting section is located on the second lateral side and extends in a second direction. 
     Preferably, the first bracket has a first feature, and the second bracket has a second feature. The first feature and the second feature do not contact each other when the first bracket and the second bracket are extended to a first length. The first feature and the second feature contact each other when the first bracket and the second bracket are extended to a second length. 
     Preferably, the first feature is one of a protruding portion and an elastic arm, and the second feature is the other of the protruding portion and the elastic arm. 
     Preferably, the supporting frame is either integrally formed with the first bracket or a separate component connected to the first bracket. 
     Preferably, the first bracket has the second supporting section. 
     Preferably, the first bracket includes a sidewall, and the sidewall has not only the first lateral side and the second lateral side, but also an upper portion and a lower portion. The first supporting section is adjacent to the lower portion while the second supporting section is adjacent to the upper portion. 
     Preferably, the first supporting section is connected with a first bent section. 
     Preferably, the second supporting section is connected with a second bent section. 
     Preferably, the second bracket includes an upper wall, a lower wall, and a sidewall connected between the upper wall and the lower wall, wherein the lower wall and the upper wall correspond in position to the first supporting section and the second supporting section respectively. 
     Preferably, the supporting frame is a separate component connected to the first bracket and has the second supporting section and an intermediate wall connected between the first supporting section and the second supporting section. It is also preferable that the first supporting section and the second supporting section are connected with a first bent section and a second bent section respectively. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a supporting assembly adapted to be mounted on a rack includes a first bracket, a supporting frame, and a second bracket. The first bracket includes a sidewall. The sidewall of the first bracket includes a first end portion and a second end portion, and a first mounting member is arranged adjacent to the first end portion. The sidewall of the first bracket also has a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The supporting frame is connected to the second lateral side and has a first supporting section. The second bracket includes a sidewall and a second mounting member. One of the first bracket and the supporting frame is provided with a second supporting section. The first supporting section and the second supporting section jointly constitute a supporting channel for supporting the sidewall of the second bracket. The first bracket is mounted at a first position on a first side of the rack through the first mounting member, and the second bracket is mounted at a second position on the first side of the rack through the second mounting member. 
     Preferably, the sidewall of the first bracket has a carrying portion on the first lateral side so that the supporting assembly can carry an external object through the carrying portion. 
     Preferably, the supporting frame is adjacent to the second end portion of the first bracket and is either integrally formed with the first bracket or a separate component connected to the first bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows how an object is mounted on a rack through a pair of supporting assemblies according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the supporting assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the supporting assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the supporting assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing how the supporting assembly supports an object; 
         FIG. 5  shows the pair of supporting assemblies mounted on a rack and extended to a first length according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the circled area A in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the circled area B in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows the pair of supporting assemblies mounted on a rack and extended to a second length according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the circled area A in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of a supporting assembly according to the second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an assembled perspective view of the supporting assembly according to the second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the supporting assembly according to the second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of a supporting assembly according to the third embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  is an assembled perspective view of the supporting assembly according to the third embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view of the supporting assembly according to the third embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows how an object  20 , e.g., the chassis of a piece of electronic equipment, is mounted on a rack  26  via a pair of supporting assemblies  22 ,  24  according to the first embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the supporting assembly  22  includes a first bracket  28 , a supporting frame  30 , and a second bracket  32 . The first bracket  28  is mounted at a first position P 1  on a first side S 1  of the rack  26 , and the second bracket  32  is mounted at a second position P 2  on the first side S 1  of the rack  26 . The other supporting assembly  24  is mounted on a second side S 2  of the rack  26  in a similar manner. 
       FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4  more clearly show the components of the supporting assembly  22  and how the components are arranged in relation to one another. The first bracket  28  of the supporting assembly  22  includes a first end portion  34  and a second end portion  36 , such as but not limited to a front end portion and a rear end portion. Preferably, the first bracket  28  includes a sidewall  38  of a predetermined length, and the sidewall  38  includes the first end portion  34  and the second end portion  36 , with at least one first mounting member  40  (e.g., two first mounting members  40 ) arranged adjacent to the first end portion  34 . The first bracket  28  is mounted at the first position P 1  on the first side S 1  of the rack  26  through the first mounting members  40 . The sidewall  38  of the first bracket  28  has a first lateral side L 1  and a second lateral side L 2 . For example, the second lateral side L 2  is on the opposite side of the first lateral side L 1 ; in other words, the first lateral side L 1  and the second lateral side L 2  are two opposite sides of the sidewall  38 . 
     In the first embodiment, the supporting frame  30  and the first bracket  28  are integrally formed. The supporting frame  30  is connected to the first bracket  28  at a position adjacent to the second end portion  36 . More specifically, the supporting frame  30  is connected to the sidewall  38  of the first bracket  28  and extends from the second lateral side L 2 . Here, three supporting frames  30  are provided by way of example. In practice, however, only one supporting frame  30  suffices. Each supporting frame  30  has a first supporting section  42 . Either the first bracket  28  or the supporting frames  30  are provided with a second supporting section  44 . Here, by way of example, it is the first bracket  28  that is provided with the second supporting section  44 . The first supporting sections  42  and the second supporting section  44  jointly constitute a supporting channel  46  for supporting the second bracket  32 . The second bracket  32  is mounted on the first bracket  28  through the supporting channel  46 . 
     The second bracket  32  includes a sidewall  48  and at least one second mounting member  50  (e.g., two second mounting members  50 ). The sidewall  48  of the second bracket  32  has a predetermined length and is supported in the supporting channel  46 . The second mounting members  50  are arranged adjacent to an end portion  52  of the sidewall  48  of the second bracket  32  and are outside the supporting channel  46 . The second mounting members  50  are away from the first mounting members  40 . The second bracket  32  is mounted at the second position P 2  on the first side S 1  of the rack  26  through the second mounting members  50 . 
     Preferably, the sidewall  38  of the first bracket  28  has a first feature  54 , and the sidewall  48  of the second bracket  32  has a second feature  56 . Here, the first feature  54  is a protruding portion, and the second feature  56  is an elastic arm. In embodiments that are not shown herein, the first feature  54  may be an elastic arm instead while the second feature  56  is a protruding portion; the present invention has no limitation in this regard. That is to say, the first feature  54  is one of a protruding portion and an elastic arm, and the second feature  56  is the other of the protruding portion and the elastic arm. The elastic arm can be moved over the protruding portion elastically in the course in which the second bracket  32  is mounted to the first bracket  28 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the first supporting sections  42  and the second supporting section  44  are located on the second lateral side L 2  of the sidewall  38  of the first bracket  28 , the sidewall  38  of the first bracket  28  has a lower portion  58  and an upper portion  60 , the first supporting sections  42  are adjacent to the lower portion  58 , and the second supporting section  44  is adjacent to the upper portion  60 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the first supporting sections  42  extend substantially perpendicularly from the lower portion  58 , and the second supporting section  44  extends substantially perpendicularly from the upper portion  60 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a carrying portion  62  is arranged on the first lateral side L 1  of the sidewall  38  of the first bracket  28 , is substantially adjacent to the lower portion  58 , and extends in a first direction D 1 . The carrying portion  62  is configured to carry a bottom portion of the object  20  in such a way that a lateral side of the object  20  can be pressed against and thereby supported by the first lateral side L 1  of the sidewall  38  of the first bracket  28 . The first supporting sections  42  and the second supporting section  44  extend in a second direction D 2  that is different from the first direction D 1 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 4 , each first supporting section  42  is connected with a first bent section  64 , and the second supporting section  44  is connected with a second bent section  66 . Here, by way of example, each first bent section  64  is substantially perpendicularly connected to the corresponding first supporting section  42  and extends toward the supporting channel  46 , and the second bent section  66  is substantially perpendicularly connected to the second supporting section  44  and extends toward the supporting channel  46 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the second bracket  32  includes an upper wall  68   a  and a lower wall  68   b , the sidewall  48  is connected between the upper wall  68   a  and the lower wall  68   b , the lower wall  68   b  corresponds in position to the first supporting sections  42 , and the upper wall  68   a  corresponds in position to the second supporting section  44 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the first bent sections  64  and the second bent section  66  help keep the second bracket  32  in the supporting channel  46 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , the first feature  54  and the second feature  56  do not contact each other when the first bracket  28  and the second bracket  32  are extended to a first length X 1 . The second bracket  32  in this state can be moved with respect to the first bracket  28  through the supporting channel  46  as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . Once the first bracket  28  and the second bracket  32  are extended to a second length X 2 , the first feature  54  and the second feature  56  contact each other, thereby setting a limit to the adjustment (i.e., relative displacement) of the first bracket  28  and the second bracket  32  for the sake of safety. 
       FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12  show a supporting assembly  200  according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The supporting assembly  200  is different from the supporting assembly  22  of the first embodiment substantially in that the supporting frame  202  is a separate component connected to the first bracket  204 . For example, the supporting frame  202  may be fixedly connected to the first bracket  204  by riveting or soldering, or the supporting frame  202  may be detachably connected to the first bracket  204  through mechanical engagement or by a threaded means. 
     The first bracket  204  has a second supporting section  206  while the supporting frame  202  has a first supporting section  214 . The first supporting section  214  and the second supporting section  206  jointly constitute a supporting channel  207  for supporting the sidewall  226  of the second bracket  220 . 
     The first bracket  204  includes a sidewall  208 , and the sidewall  208  has a first lateral side L 1  and a second lateral side L 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the sidewall  208  of the first bracket  204  has an upper portion  210  and a lower portion  212 , and the first supporting section  214  and the second supporting section  206  are located on the second lateral side L 2 . The first supporting section  214  is adjacent to the lower portion  212  while the second supporting section  206  is adjacent to the upper portion  210 . A carrying portion  216  is arranged on the first lateral side L 1  and extends in a first direction D 1 . The first supporting section  214  and the second supporting section  206  extend in a second direction D 2 . The first supporting section  214  is connected with a first bent section  218 . Here, the first bent section  218  is substantially perpendicularly connected to the first supporting section  214  by way of example. The second bracket  220  includes an upper wall  222  and a lower wall  224  in addition to the sidewall  226 , which is connected between the upper wall  222  and the lower wall  224 . The lower wall  224  corresponds in position to the first supporting section  214  while the upper wall  222  corresponds in position to the second supporting section  206 . 
       FIG. 13  to  FIG. 15  show a supporting assembly  300  according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The supporting assembly  300  is different from the supporting assembly  22  of the first embodiment substantially in that the supporting frame  302  is a separate component connected to the first bracket  304 . For example, the supporting frame  302  may be fixedly connected to the first bracket  304  by riveting or soldering, or the supporting frame  302  may be detachably connected to the first bracket  304  through mechanical engagement or by a threaded means. 
     The supporting frame  302  has a second supporting section  306  as well as a first supporting section  310 . The supporting frame  302  further has an intermediate wall  308  connected between the first supporting section  310  and the second supporting section  306 . The first supporting section  310  is connected with a first bent section  312 , and the second supporting section  306  is connected with a second bent section  314 . 
     The first supporting section  310 , the second supporting section  306 , and the intermediate wall  308  define a supporting channel  316  for supporting the second bracket  318 . 
     The intermediate wall  308  of the supporting frame  302  is formed with a hole  321  in order not to interfere with the first feature  320  of the first bracket  304 . The first feature  320  of the first bracket  304  extends through the hole  321  in the intermediate wall  308  of the supporting frame  302  to work with the second feature  322  of the second bracket  318 . The structural configurations and functions of the first feature  320  and of the second feature  322  are the same as those of their counterparts in the first embodiment and therefore will not be repeated. 
     According to the above, the supporting assemblies disclosed herein preferably have the following features:
     1. The supporting frame and the first bracket of each supporting assembly may be integrally formed, or the supporting frame may be a separate component connected to the first bracket; in either case, the supporting frame serves to increase the structural strength of the supporting assembly. Moreover, the supporting frame of the third as well as the second embodiment may be detachably connected to the first bracket to facilitate assembly.   2. The supporting assemblies can be adjusted in length to adapt to racks of different depths.   3. The supporting assemblies are configured to be mounted on a rack to directly support the object they carry.   

     While the present invention has been disclosed through the embodiments described above, it should be understood that the embodiments are not intended to be restrictive of the scope of the invention. The scope of patent protection sought by the applicant is defined by the appended claims.