Patent Publication Number: US-11377260-B2

Title: Electronics enclosure

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to enclosures for electronic devices such as communication equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Large scale emergencies, such as natural disasters, require the deployment of large numbers of personnel and equipment, often to remote locations. Communications among the various responding resources is often difficult. It is known to use vehicle-based communications centers in which hardware to provide one or more communications technologies at the site of the emergency are mounted in an emergency vehicle. Such communications technologies may include cellular, satellite, microwave, radio frequency (RF), etc. While such vehicle-based communications centers are able to provide necessary communications capability at many remote locations, vehicle-based communications centers may not be able to be driven everywhere such capability may be needed. 
     It is also known to use man-portable communications centers, in which hardware to provide one or more communications technologies are contained within an enclosure that is small and lightweight enough to be carried by one person. Such man-portable communications centers can be transported almost anywhere. However, their small size, which is necessary for portability, can result in reduced usability and thermal management problems (i.e., overheating) due to the “shoe-horning” of equipment that results when equipping such man-portable communications centers with all of the desired communications equipment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments of the invention comprise an enclosure for electronics/communication equipment. In one embodiment of the invention, an enclosure comprises a bottom container, a first shelf hingedly connected to the enclosure, and a second shelf hingedly connected to the enclosure. The bottom container comprises a floor, a left wall, a right wall, a front wall, and a back wall. The floor, the left wall, the right wall, the front wall, and the back wall define an inner volume of the bottom container. The first shelf comprises a receiving portion for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The first shelf is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the first shelf receiving portion is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container and (ii) an in-use position in which the first shelf receiving portion at least partially extends beyond a first corresponding wall of the bottom container. The second shelf comprises a receiving portion for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The second shelf is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the second shelf receiving portion is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container and (ii) an in-use position in which the second shelf receiving portion at least partially extends beyond a second corresponding wall of the bottom container. When the first and second shelves are in their respective storage positions, the receiving portions of the first and second shelves are positioned in a stacked arrangement such that the second shelf receiving portion is higher than the first shelf receiving portion within the inner volume of the bottom container. 
     The enclosure may further comprise a cushioning material affixed to a bottom surface of the first shelf receiving portion to provide cushioning to an object connected to the second shelf receiving portion when the first and second shelves are in their respective storage positions. 
     The enclosure may further comprise a third shelf hingedly connected to the enclosure. The third shelf comprises a receiving portion for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The third shelf is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the third shelf receiving portion is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container and (ii) an in-use position in which the third shelf receiving portion at least partially extends beyond a third corresponding wall of the bottom container. When the first, second, and third shelves are in their respective storage positions, the receiving portions of the first, second, and third shelves are positioned in a stacked arrangement such that the second shelf receiving portion and the third shelf receiving portion are higher than the first shelf receiving portion within the inner volume of the bottom container. 
     The first shelf may be a front shelf, the first shelf receiving portion may be front shelf receiving portion, and the front shelf receiving portion may at least partially extends beyond the front wall of the bottom container when the front shelf is in its in-use position. The second shelf may be a left side shelf, the second shelf receiving portion may be a left side shelf receiving portion, and the left side shelf receiving portion may at least partially extends beyond the left wall of the bottom container when the left side shelf is in its in-use position. The third shelf may be a right side shelf, the third shelf receiving portion may be a right side shelf receiving portion, and the right side shelf receiving portion may at least partially extends beyond the right wall of the bottom container when the right side shelf is in its in-use position. 
     The enclosure may further comprise an insert positioned within the inner volume of the bottom container. The insert may comprise an insert front wall, an insert back wall, an insert left wall, and an insert right wall. The insert may be connected to the bottom container via the floor and/or one or more of the walls of the bottom container. 
     The front shelf may be hingedly connected to the enclosure via a hinged connection to either (i) the front wall of the bottom container, (ii) the floor of the bottom container, or (iii) the insert front wall. The left side shelf may be hingedly connected to the enclosure via a hinged connection to either (i) the left wall of the bottom container, (ii) the floor of the bottom container, or (iii) the insert left wall. The right side shelf may be hingedly connected to the enclosure via a hinged connection to either (i) the right wall of the bottom container, (ii) the floor of the bottom container, or (iii) the insert right wall. 
     The enclosure may further comprise a lid hingedly connected to the back wall of the bottom container. 
     In alternative embodiments of the invention, an enclosure comprises a bottom container, an insert positioned within the inner volume of the bottom container, a first shelf hingedly connected to a first corresponding insert wall, and a second shelf hingedly connected to a second corresponding insert wall. The bottom container comprises a floor, a left wall, a right wall, a front wall, and a back wall. The floor, the left wall, the right wall, the front wall, and the back wall define an inner volume of the bottom container. The insert comprises an insert front wall, an insert back wall, an insert left wall, and an insert right wall. The insert is connected to the bottom container via the floor and/or one or more of the walls of the bottom container. The first shelf comprises a receiving portion for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The first shelf is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the first shelf receiving portion is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container and (ii) an in-use position in which the first shelf receiving portion at least partially extends beyond a first corresponding wall of the bottom container. The second shelf comprises a receiving portion for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The second shelf is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the second shelf receiving portion is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container and (ii) an in-use position in which the second shelf receiving portion at least partially extends beyond a second corresponding wall of the bottom container. When the first and second shelves are in their respective storage positions, the receiving portions of the first and second shelves are positioned in a stacked arrangement such that the second shelf receiving portion is higher than the first shelf receiving portion within the inner volume of the bottom container. 
     In other alternative embodiments of the invention, an enclosure comprises a bottom container, an insert positioned within the inner volume of the bottom container, a front shelf hingedly connected to the insert front wall, a left side shelf hingedly connected to the insert left wall, and a right side shelf hingedly connected to the insert right wall. The bottom container comprises a floor, a left wall, a right wall, a front wall, and a back wall. The floor, the left wall, the right wall, the front wall, and the back wall define an inner volume of the bottom container. The insert comprises an insert front wall, an insert back wall, an insert left wall, and an insert right wall. The insert is connected to the bottom container via the floor and/or one or more of the walls of the bottom container. The front shelf comprises a receiving portion for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The front shelf is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the front shelf receiving portion is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container and (ii) an in-use position in which the front shelf receiving portion at least partially extends beyond the front wall of the bottom container. The left side shelf comprises a receiving portion for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The left side shelf is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the left side shelf receiving portion is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container and (ii) an in-use position in which the left side shelf receiving portion at least partially extends beyond the left wall of the bottom container. The right side shelf comprises a receiving portion for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The right side shelf is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the right side shelf receiving portion is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container and (ii) an in-use position in which the right side shelf receiving portion at least partially extends beyond the right wall of the bottom container. When the front, left side, and right side shelves are in their respective storage positions, the receiving portions of the front, left side, and right side shelves are positioned in a stacked arrangement such that the left side shelf receiving portion and the right side shelf receiving portion are higher than the front shelf receiving portion within the inner volume of the bottom container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosure, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a communications enclosure, in an open position with unfolded shelves, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an insert removed from the communications enclosure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the communications enclosure of  FIG. 1 , in an open position with folded shelves. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view along line  4 - 4  of the communications enclosure of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” and “top” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “upwardly” and “downwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     Embodiments of the invention are directed to an enclosure for storing, transporting, and operating hardware to provide one or more communications technologies (and/or other electronic equipment) in a form that enables improved usability and thermal management as compared to conventional enclosures. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , an enclosure  100  comprises a bottom container  102  and a lid  104  hingedly connected thereto. The bottom container  102  comprises a floor  102 E, a left wall  102 D, a right wall  102 B, a front wall  102 A, and a back wall  102 C, which together define an inner volume of the bottom container  102 . The lid  104  is movable between a closed position (not illustrated) closing off the inner volume of the bottom container  102  and an open position enabling access to the inner volume of the bottom container  102 . The lid  104  is hingedly connected to the back wall  102 C of the bottom container  102  via conventional hinges  106 . One or two conventional lid supports  108  may be attached to the bottom container  102  and the lid  104  to keep the lid  104  in the open position when desired. One or more (typically two) wheels  116  on one end of the enclosure  100  and a handle  118  on the opposite end of the enclosure  100  enable easier transport of the enclosure  100  over even surfaces. The bottom container  102  and lid  104  may be constructed of any suitable material that is sufficiently strong, durable, and rigid, such as any suitable plastic or metal. 
     In alternative embodiments of the invention (not illustrated), the hinged lid may be selectively separable from the bottom container. In other alternative embodiments of the invention (not illustrated), the lid may be connected to the bottom container only when the lid is closed (such as via snaps, clips, or any suitable attachment mechanism) and the lid is separated from the bottom container for use. In such alternative embodiments, the separated lid may be attached to and supported by a stand. 
     Because the bottom container  102  may be constructed of plastic, an insert  130  may be positioned within the inner volume of the bottom container  102 . The insert  130  provides surfaces that are more rigid than the surfaces of a plastic bottom container  102  to which one or more shelves (described below) may be mounted. The insert  130  comprises an insert front wall  134 A, an insert back wall  134 C, an insert left wall  134 D, and an insert right wall  134 B. The insert  130  may also comprise a dividing wall  136  to provide a segregated space (between insert back wall  134 C and insert dividing wall  136 ) for cabling, etc. A plurality of holes  139  may be defined in the insert dividing wall  136  and/or a plurality of holes  138  may be defined in the insert back wall  134 C to enable wires/cabling (e.g., power, communications, etc.) to be run among the various electronic components in the enclosure  100 . The insert  130  may be constructed of any suitable material that is sufficiently strong, durable, and rigid, but typically any suitable metal. 
     The insert  130  may be connected to the bottom container  102  in any suitable manner, such as being attached to the floor  102 E and/or one or more of the walls  102 A-D of the bottom container  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the insert  130  has a front mounting flange  132 A extending substantially horizontally from the top edge of the insert front wall  134 A and a back mounting flange  132 B extending substantially horizontally from the top edge of the insert back wall  134 C. The front mounting flange  132 A is secured to the front wall  102 A of the bottom container  102  (using any suitable mounting hardware) and the back mounting flange  132 B is secured to the back wall  102 C of the bottom container  102  (using any suitable mounting hardware). The mounting hardware (screws, nuts, bolts, etc.) is omitted from the figures for simplicity. 
     One or more shelves may be mounted to the insert  130 , or to the bottom container  102  (walls and/or floor) if the enclosure does not have an insert. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three shelves. A front shelf  114  is hingedly connected to the insert front wall  134 A; a left side shelf  110  is hingedly connected to the insert left wall  134 D; and a right side shelf  112  is hingedly connected to the insert right wall  134 B. The front shelf  114  comprises a receiving portion  114 A for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The receiving portion  114 A is generally planar. The front shelf  114  is connected to the insert  130  via mounting bracket  114 B (or any other suitable mechanism). The front shelf  114  is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the front shelf receiving portion  114 A is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container  102  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and (ii) an in-use position in which the front shelf receiving portion  114 A at least partially extends beyond the front wall  102 A of the bottom container  102  ( FIG. 1 ). The elbows  114 C that extend downward from two corners of the receiving portion  114 A and which connect the receiving portion  114 A to the mounting bracket  114 B enable the described movement between the storage and in-use positions. 
     The left side shelf  110  comprises a receiving portion  110 A for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The receiving portion  110 A is generally planar. The left side shelf  110  is connected to the insert  130  via mounting bracket  110 B (or any other suitable mechanism). The left side shelf  110  is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the left side shelf receiving portion  110 A is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container  102  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and (ii) an in-use position in which the left side shelf receiving portion  110 A at least partially extends beyond the left wall  102 D of the bottom container  102  ( FIG. 1 ). The elbows  110 C that extend downward from two corners of the receiving portion  110 A and which connect the receiving portion  110 A to the mounting bracket  110 B enable the described movement between the storage and in-use positions. 
     The right side shelf  112  comprises a receiving portion  112 A for selectively receiving and supporting an object. The receiving portion  112 A is generally planar. The right side shelf  112  is connected to the insert  130  via mounting bracket  112 B (or any other suitable mechanism). The right side shelf  112  is selectively movable between (i) a storage position in which the right side shelf receiving portion  112 A is positioned entirely within the inner volume of the bottom container  102  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and (ii) an in-use position in which the right side shelf receiving portion  112 A at least partially extends beyond the right wall  102 B of the bottom container  102  ( FIG. 1 ). The elbows  112 C that extend downward from two corners of the receiving portion  112 A and which connect the receiving portion  112 A to the mounting bracket  112 B enable the described movement between the storage and in-use positions. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the front shelf  114  is designed to support an object (e.g., a laptop computer) only when the front shelf  114  is in its in-use position. The object would be removed from the front shelf  114  when the front shelf  114  is moved to its storage position. In contrast, the left side shelf  110  and the right side shelf  112  are designed such that an object may be attached to one or both side shelves and stay attached whether the side shelves are in their respective storage positions or in their respective in-use positions. Various mechanisms may be used to attach objects to the side shelves. In the illustrated embodiment, an object may be attached to the left side shelf  110  via a clamping plate  110 D that is secured to the receiving portion  110 A via posts  110 E.  FIGS. 1 and 4  show a generic device  122  (e.g., a battery) attached to left side shelf  110 . The right side shelf  112  uses a different mechanism to attach an object. The right side shelf  112  has a number of holes in the receiving portion  112 A to enable an object to be screwed or bolted onto the right side shelf  112 . The receiving portion  112 A has a large opening that may be occluded as needed by adapter plate  112 D depending on the structure of the attached object.  FIGS. 1 and 4  show a generic device  124  (e.g., a communications transceiver) attached to right side shelf  112 . 
     Advantageously, when the front shelf  114 , the left side shelf  110 , and the right side shelf  112  are in their respective storage positions, the receiving portions  114 A,  110 A,  112 A shelves are positioned in a stacked arrangement such that the left side shelf receiving portion  110 A and the right side shelf receiving portion  112 A are higher than the front shelf receiving portion  114 A within the inner volume of the bottom container. The left side shelf receiving portion  110 A and the right side shelf receiving portion  112 A are side-by-side at the same (or approximately the same) level in the inner volume when in their storage positions. In this regard, device  122  attached to the left side shelf receiving portion  110 A and device  124  attached to the right side shelf receiving portion  112 A are securely stored within the enclosure. A cushioning material  150  (e.g., any suitable foam or pad) may be affixed to the bottom surface of the front shelf receiving portion  114 A. This cushioning material  150  provides cushioning to help protect devices  122 ,  124  when the shelves  114 ,  110 ,  112  are in their respective storage positions. This stacked arrangement is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In alternative embodiments of the invention (not illustrated), the front shelf may be omitted such that there is no stacking of the shelves in the storage positions. In other alternative embodiments of the invention (not illustrated), the left and right shelves may be at different heights in the inner volume such that the left shelf is higher than the right shelf or vice versa when in their storage positions (in this alternative embodiment, the left and right shelves could be wider as they would not need to fit side-by-side in the inner volume. 
     A lid bracket  140  may be secured to the inner surface of the lid  104  to enable equipment to be securely mounted to the lid  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, the lid bracket  140  is generally planar with top and bottom mounting flanges  142 A,  142 B and left and right mounting flanges  144 A,  144 B for securing the lid bracket  140  to the perimeter of the lid  104  (using any suitable mounting hardware (not illustrated)). The lid bracket  140  may be constructed of any suitable material that is sufficiently strong, durable, and rigid, but typically any suitable metal. Any suitable type and quantity of equipment may be mounted to the lid  104  via the lid mounting bracket  140 , such as telephones, radios, computer screens, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, two telephones  120 A,  120 B are mounted to the lid  104  via the lid mounting bracket  140 . 
     In alternative embodiments of the invention (not illustrated), the insert may be omitted in which case the shelves would be attached directly to the walls and/or floor of the bottom container. Similarly, the lid insert may be omitted in which case equipment would be attached directly to the lid. 
     When the shelves  110 ,  112 ,  114  are all in their closed positions and the lid  104  is closed, the equipment attached to the side shelves  112 ,  114  and to the lid  104  is securely retained and protected within the enclosure  100 . When the lid  104  is opened and the shelves  110 ,  112 ,  114  are moved to their in-use positions, all of the equipment is easily accessible for use. Advantageously, by raising the equipment on the side shelves  112 ,  114  out of the inner volume of the bottom container  102 , airflow around the equipment is improved and the likelihood of the equipment overheating is greatly reduced. The front shelf  114  acts as a counterweight (whether in its storage or in-use position) to the lid  104 , lid mounting bracket  140 , and equipment (such as telephones  120 A,  120 B) mounted to the lid to help prevent the enclosure  100  from tipping over when the lid  104  is open. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.