Patent Publication Number: US-2003233855-A1

Title: Apparatus for securing moveable objects within a support rack

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to the field of securing mounted devices. More specifically embodiments of the invention disclose an apparatus for securing computer hardware into a fixed position within a rack mount or any other system for holding computer hardware.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] Computer systems, particularly network server equipment can be stored in racks. The rack provides a location for storing multiple pieces of equipment in a manner that is easily accessible to network administrators or other technical people who require access to the equipment. The majority of racks are designed so that computer equipment can be freely moved from the rack during servicing or maintenance. When computer equipment is to be replaced it can simply be removed from the rack and replaced with another piece of equipment. Any combination of hardware components can be added to the rack and most rack systems are flexibly designed to accommodate varying sizes of equipment. A drawback of the flexibility racks provide is that the computer equipment is not adequately secured within the rack. This lack of security increases the risk of equipment theft and/or damage. In many companies this problem is addressed by keeping the rack in a secure room and limiting access to that particular room. A problem encountered when using this approach is that it can become cumbersome to determine who is and who is not authorized to access the equipment room. When outside vendors are involved in the configuration, maintenance, or testing of the computer equipment this problem becomes even more pronounced.  
       [0003] One solution used to address the problems discussed above is to secure the computer equipment held within the rack via a cable (See e.g., FIG. 1). When this solution is utilized Computer Equipment  100 ,  102 , and  103  held within Rack  106  is secured via Cable  108 . Cable  108  is attached to Rack  106  via padlock  110  and to Computer Equipment  100 ,  102 , and  103  via a securing mechanism  112 ,  113 , and  114 . This approach secures Computer Equipment  100 ,  102 , and  103  within Rack  106  but does not limit access to each individual piece of Computer Equipment  100 ,  102 , and  103 . A person that has access to Computer Equipment  100 , for example, also has access to Computer Equipment  102  and  103 . In some instances this may not be appropriate. If, for example, an outside vendor has provided the equipment on loan or for purposes of testing network performance, the outside vendor may not wish to allow network administrators within the company to change the configuration or placement of the equipment. Conversely, network administrators may wish to prevent outside vendors from changing the arrangement or configuration of certain equipment. Current systems for locking computer equipment within a rack do not adequately restrict access to individual pieces of equipment in a manner that securely the device, but is easy for authorized persons to unlock. As a result there is a need for an improved apparatus for securing computer equipment and other moveable objects held within a support rack.  
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0004]FIG. 1 shows an example of prior art mechanism for locking computer equipment within a support rack.  
     [0005]FIG. 2A is a front side view of the locking apparatus configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0006] FIGS.  2 B- 1  illustrates a perspective view of the locking apparatus configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0007] FIGS.  2 B- 2  illustrates a perspective view of the locking apparatus configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0008] FIGS.  2 B- 3  illustrates a perspective view of the locking apparatus configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0009] FIGS.  2 C- 1  illustrates a perspective view of the locking apparatus configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0010] FIGS.  2 C- 2  illustrates a perspective view of the locking apparatus configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0011] FIGS.  2 C- 3  illustrates a perspective view of the locking apparatus configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 illustrates multiple perspective views of the locking apparatus configured with a rotatable obstructing member configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 4A illustrates various obstructing members for blocking single points of egress/ingress from a support rack in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 4B illustrates an obstructing member for blocking multiple paths of ingress/egress from a support rack in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 5A is a front side view of an object containing contents to be secured in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of the constraining and locking apparatus configured with the facia open in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 5C illustrates a perspective view of the constraining and locking apparatus configured with both the facia and constraining apparatus open in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0018]FIG. 6A illustrates a perspective view of the constraining apparatus pivoting around an element attached to the object.  
     [0019]FIG. 6B illustrates a perspective view of the constraining apparatus pivoting around a hinge attached to the object.  
     [0020]FIG. 7A illustrates a locking apparatus with a rotatable locking element configured to prevent the constraining apparatus from opening in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 7B illustrates a locking apparatus with a rotatable locking element configured to allow the constraining apparatus to open in accord with one embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     [0022] An apparatus embodying one or more aspects of the invention secures moveable objects such as computer hardware into position within a support rack by blocking one or more points of ingress and/or egress from the rack. An embodiment of the invention provides a mechanism for securing the moveable object into a fixed position within a support rack or any other system for holding such hardware. When the moveable object is locked within the support rack using the invention, an unauthorized party cannot move the physical object held within the support rack.  
     [0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism contains an obstructing member configured to block the opening of the support rack. The obstructing member contains an anchoring element disposed adjacent to any surface of the support rack located in proximity with the opening used to move objects from the support rack. The anchoring element contains a locking mechanism that provides an interface for coupling and decoupling the obstructing member. For example, anchoring element may be disposed adjacent to the support rack and the obstructing member may be removed via the locking mechanism so as to permit ingress and egress of objects to or from the support rack. The locking mechanism can be any device configured to couple and decouple the anchoring element from the obstructing member.  
     [0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism contains multiple components. For instance, the locking mechanism may be made up of a coupling element that protrudes from the anchoring element into the obstructing member&#39;s receiving element. The receiving element can be configured to capture the coupling element and thereby provide an interface for locking the anchoring element and the obstructing member. The coupling element may contain locking nodes which provide a mechanism for securing the coupling element to the obstructing member via the receiving element. In one embodiment of the invention the locking nodes provide an opening for inserting a securing element (e.g., a lock, padlock, combination lock, or pin, etc.) larger than the opening of the receiving element. When the obstructing member and anchoring element are coupled together via the locking mechanism, computer equipment or any other type of moveable object cannot be removed from the support rack. Thus, the invention provides a mechanism for locking moveable objects within a support rack.  
     [0025] In one or more embodiments of the invention, a constraining apparatus and a locking apparatus are disposed to control access and prevent the addition, removal or modification of the contents within an object. For example, circuit boards, or cards, may be locked to prevent addition, removal or modification by an access door of a container.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0026] The invention discloses a method and apparatus for securing devices within a support rack. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough description of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.  
     [0027] An apparatus embodying one or more aspects of the invention secures devices such as computer hardware into position within a support rack by blocking one or more points of ingress and/or egress from the rack. An embodiment of the invention provides a mechanism for securing a device such as computer hardware into a fixed position within a rack or any other system for holding such hardware. The term computer hardware as used herein means any device or object, such as computer equipment, network equipment, telephone equipment, and/or any other computational device. The invention is capable of locking a moveable object within a support rack so that the physical object held within the support rack cannot be moved by an unauthorized party. The apparatus utilizes a locking mechanism to hold one or more devices within the support rack and thereby prevents the device(s) from being removed by unauthorized parties. There are multiple ways to build the apparatus described herein and the reader should note that the invention is not limited solely to the description provided. The claims and the full scope of any equivalent define the meets and bounds of the invention.  
     [0028] As FIG. 2A illustrates, the apparatus configured in accord with one embodiment of the invention provides a mechanism for locking any moveable object  277  (e.g., a piece of computer equipment) within support rack  279  via obstructing member  200  which can be positioned across or span any opening of support rack  279 . An opening is considered to be any area that provides a point of ingress and/or egress for moving the moveable object into or out of the support rack. Obstructing member  200  may comprise one or more elements and can take any shape that deters removal of moveable object  277  from support rack  279 .  
     [0029] FIGS.  2 B- 1 ,  2 B- 2 , AND  2 B- 3  illustrate obstructing member  200  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention obstructing member  200  takes a generally rectangular form, but any other shape that can block the opening described above falls within the scope of the invention.  
     [0030] In one or more embodiments of the invention, obstructing member  200  is adapted to be securely connected to the support rack at one or more times, and adapted to selectively extend across or span an opening of the support rack at one or more times. Obstructing member  200  is designed in one embodiment of the invention to include an anchoring element  202  adapted to connect obstructing element  200  to the support rack. In one embodiment, the anchoring element  202  has a design which complements the shape-of at least one surface of the support rack. For instance, if support rack  279  is made of a series of geometric structures (e.g., a lattice), anchoring element  202  can be designed to couple with support rack  279  using a complementary shape. However, the shape of anchoring element  202  is not limited to solely to geometric shapes. Accordingly, the reader should note that anchoring portion  202  may contain any number of pieces and take any shape that can be coupled with the support rack. Anchoring element  202  is defined in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention to be any object disposed adjacent to any surface of the support rack located in proximity with the opening used to move objects from the support rack. Anchoring element  202  may, for example, have a portion adhered to any aspect of the support rack. In one embodiment of the invention, anchoring element  202  is removeably or permanently a fixed to a vertical, horizontal, or other part of the support rack.  
     [0031] In one or more embodiments, anchoring element  202  is configured to engage obstructing member  200  in a manner permitting the obstructing member  200  to be oriented in a first position in which it extends across or spans an opening in the support rack to prevent access/removal of the moveable object  277 , and at least a second position in which the obstructing member  200  does not extend across or span the opening, thus permitting access/removal of the moveable object  277 .  
     [0032] In one embodiment, anchoring element  202  may contain a locking mechanism that provides an interface for coupling and decoupling anchoring element  202  with obstructing member  200 . In this embodiment of the invention, anchoring element  202  is disposed adjacent to the support rack and obstructing member  200  may be removed via the locking mechanism configured to permit ingress and egress of objects to or from the support rack. The locking mechanism can be any device configured to couple and decouple anchoring element  202  from obstructing member  200 .  
     [0033] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism comprises multiple components. For instance, the locking mechanism may be made up of coupling element  206  that protrudes from anchoring element  202  into obstructing member  200 &#39;s receiving element  208 . Receiving element  208  is configured to capture coupling element  206  and thereby provide an interface for locking anchoring element  202  and obstructing member  206  together.  
     [0034] In addition, in one embodiment, obstructing member  200  includes a notch  201  which is selectively engaged by a flange portion  203  of anchoring element  202 . The engagement of flange portion  203  with notch  201  provides supplemental restraint of obstructing mechanism  200  in a position in which it extends across the opening in support rack  279 .  
     [0035] Coupling element  206  may contain locking nodes  210  which provide a mechanism for securing coupling element  206  to obstructing member  200  via receiving element  208 . In one embodiment of the invention locking nodes  210  provide an opening for inserting a securing element (e.g., a lock, padlock, combination lock, or pin, etc . . . ) larger than the opening of receiving element  208 . Locking nodes  210  may also have protruding elements for holding anchoring element  202  in a locked position.  
     [0036] Various other locking mechanisms fall within the scope of what is contemplated by the invention. Locking mechanism may, for example, be any device or apparatus configured to restrict movement of obstructing member from an opening of the support rack.  
     [0037] In one embodiment of the invention anchoring element  202  is permanently coupled to obstructing member  200  and the locking mechanism interfaces with the support rack. However, as FIG. 2 b  depicts, anchoring element  202  may also be separable from obstructing member  200  via the locking mechanism.  
     [0038] In one embodiment, obstructing member  200  interfaces with the support rack in a manner permitting pivoting or rotation of obstructing member  200  from the opening of the support rack during ingress and egress of the moveable object. For example, referring now to FIG. 3, obstructing member  200  is shown in a rotating embodiment of the invention. In this instance, coupling element  206  comprises a circular pin which allows rotation of obstructing member  200  as illustrated by directional arrow  251 . When obstructing member  200  is in a locked position  252 , moveable objects cannot be removed from the support rack. When obstructing member  200  is rotated to an open position  253  moveable objects can be removed from the support rack. Obstructing member  200  can be held in a locked position via inward pressure exerted when pin  207  is inserted so as to cause obstructing member  200  to engage with support rack  279 . For instance, obstructing member  200  may contain a groove or notch (e.g.,  211 ) that permits obstructing member to rest in an obstructing position when locked.  
     [0039] Obstructing member  200  may be movably connected to support rack  279  in other manners (See e.g., FIGS.  3 E- 1  and  3 E- 2 ). In one embodiment, anchor element  202  may include a passageway which is alignable with a passageway in obstructing member  200 . Coupling member  206  may comprise pin  207  which can be extended through the aligned passageways. The pin may have a head at one end and an aperture at the other for accepting a lock  209  or the like to fix the pin in position. In one embodiment, pin  207  may be oriented as illustrated in FIGS.  3 A-C, or rotated ninety degrees thereto, permitting obstructing member  200  to rotate towards and away from support rack  279 , as opposed to side to side (see e.g. FIGS.  3 E- 1  &amp; FIGS.  3 E- 2 ).  
     [0040] In other embodiments, the manner of connection of obstructing member  200  to support rack  279  permitting obstructing member  200  to be moved between its obstructing and non-obstructing positions may vary. For example, obstructing member  200  may be connected to support rack  279  with a hinge. In one embodiment, obstructing member  200  may comprise multiple portions which are adapted to engage on another. One end of each portion of obstructing member  200  may be connected to support rack  279 , while opposing ends are adapted to selectively engage one another, such as in a locking fashion. When engaged and locked, the portions of obstructing member  200  may extend across or span an opening in support rack  279 , while when disconnected, the opening is not obstructed.  
     [0041] In one or more embodiments, obstructing member  200  may be connected to support rack  279  in more than one location. For example, obstructing member  200  may be connected to support rack  279  at both, such as with anchor elements  202  at each end. Such attachment may be useful in preventing a party from attempting to bend or twist obstructing member  200  from its position extending across an opening of support rack  279 .  
     [0042] In one embodiment, anchor element  202  and/or coupling element  206  may be integrally formed with support rack  279 . For example, a pin may be formed as part of a rail of support rack  279 , obstructing member  200  designed to mate with the pin in a manner permitting rotation as illustrated in FIG. 3.  
     [0043] As mentioned above, the shape of obstructing member  200  can vary throughout different embodiments of the invention yet still fall within the scope of what is contemplated as the invention. Obstructing member  200  may, for example, contain one or more resting portions  212 . Each resting portion  212  may protrude from obstructing member  200  or as shown in FIG. 2 b  be notched into obstructing member  200 . When resting portion  212  comprises a notch, the size (e.g., width and/or height) of the notch can be a varied or fixed width or height that coincides with the support rack to which it connects. For instance, in FIG. 2 b  the notches shown each have a substantially uniform opening size, however if desirable, both the sizes and the placement in supporting member  200  can be varied. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, each resting portion  212  can couple with one or more portions of the support rack. Alternatively, as FIGS.  2 C- 1 ,  2 C- 2 , and  2 C- 3  illustrate, obstructing member  200  does not require one or more resting portions  212 . In this embodiment of the invention, obstructing member  200  contains a flat planar surface without notches or protrusions as described with respect to FIGS.  2 B- 1 ,  2 B- 2 , and  2 B- 3 .  
     [0044]FIG. 4A illustrates various obstructing members coupled with a support rack. Individual obstructing members  200  may be utilized to lock each individual moveable object  277  (e.g., computational devices) and can be positioned in any way that block the point of ingress and egress (e.g., vertical, horizontal, or at an angled position). Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, obstructing member  200  can block the ingress and egress points for multiple objects  200  at the same time. Distribution of the keys for unlocking the locking mechanism associated with each obstructing member can be utilized to control access to the moveable objects. For instance, a vendor or employee may be permitted access to a certain moveable object and denied access to other moveable objects.  
     [0045]FIGS. 5A, 5B and  5 C illustrate object  500  configured in accord with an embodiment of the invention, where a constraining apparatus and locking apparatus can control access to contents contained within the object. Object  500 , containing contents, can be freestanding or mounted within support rack  279  in FIG. 2A.  
     [0046]FIG. 5A illustrates object  500  with right handle  510 , left handle  512 , walls  572  and facia  520  that conceals the constraining apparatus and locking apparatus for the constrained items  508 . The constrained items  508  are attached at points  509  to object  500 . In FIG. 5A, facia  520  is displayed in a closed position. In one or more embodiments, object  500  is a container.  
     [0047] In FIG. 5B, object  500  is displayed with facia  520  in an open position, so that constraining apparatus  530  is visible. In this embodiment, constraining apparatus  530  is represented as an access door and may be equipped with a locking apparatus  540 . The constraining apparatus is shown as an access door for convenience but may take any other form that constrains the contents  508  of object  500 . The constrained items  508  are attached at points  509  to object  500 . Constraining apparatus  530  is fastened to object  500  and opens by pivoting around a portion or element  580  of the constraining apparatus  530  that is attached to the walls  572  of object  500  at points  570 . Only right handle  510 , containing wall  572 , is displayed and left handle  512  has been omitted for clarity in FIG. 5B. Constraining apparatus  530  constrains contents  508  by blocking their removal at the bottom of contents  508 . Constraining apparatus  530  blocks the removal of contents  508  by covering the lower part of contents  508  so that the contents cannot be removed when the constraining apparatus is closed. In one embodiment of this invention, contents  508  are circuit boards, or cards, and constraining device  530  is an access door that operates as a lock bar to hold the cards locked into place inside of a container.  
     [0048] In FIG. 5C, object  500  is displayed with both facia  520  and constraining apparatus  530  in an open position, so that the interior of the object  500  is visible through opening  560 . The constrained items  508  are attached at points  509  to object  500 . With constraining apparatus  530  in an open position, contents  508  of object  500  can be removed from the object. Constraining apparatus  530  may be equipped with locking apparatus  540 . Constraining apparatus  530  is fastened to object  500  and opens by pivoting around element  580  of the constraining apparatus  530  that is attached to walls  572  of object  500  at points  570 . Only right handle  510 , containing wall  572 , is displayed and left handle  512  has been omitted for clarity in the FIG. 5C. In the open position shown in this figure, constraining apparatus  530  does not constrain contents  508  by blocking their removal at the bottom of contents  508 . As shown in this Figure, the contents  508  of object  500  can be removed. In one embodiment of this invention, contents  508  are circuit boards or cards.  
     [0049] Opening  560  in FIG. 5C is considered to be any area that provides a point of ingress and/or egress for moving the contents of object  500  into or out of the interior of object  500 . In this embodiment of the invention, constraining apparatus  530  takes the form of an access door, but any other shape that can control access to the interior of object  500  falls within the scope of the invention. Similarly, facia  520  takes a generally rectangular form, but any other shape that can conceal the constraining apparatus described above falls within the scope of the invention. The use of constraining apparatus  530 , without a facia  520 , also falls within the scope of the invention.  
     [0050] The attachment  570  between the constraining apparatus  530  and object  500  is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6A. In the Figure, element  580  of constraining apparatus  530  comprises a pin  576  that fits into a depression  574  in wall  572  of object  500 .  
     [0051] Another alternative mode of anchoring the constraining apparatus to the object is shown in FIG. 6B, where the constraining apparatus comprises a first section of a hinge represented by  530 . A second section of the hinge, anchored to object  500 , is indicated by  580 . A pin  578  holds the first and second sections of the hinge together. Any other alternative method of attaching the constraining apparatus  530  to the object falls within the scope of the invention.  
     [0052]FIGS. 7A and 7B show an embodiment of a locking apparatus for constraining apparatus  530 . In one or more embodiments, locking element  542  of locking apparatus  540  is configured to engage object  500  in a manner permitting rotatable locking element  542  to be oriented in a first position, shown in FIG. 7A, in which it extends across or spans an opening in object  500  to prevent the constraining apparatus  530  from opening. In this first position, constraining apparatus  530  prevents access and removal of the contents of object  500 . In at least a second position, shown in FIG. 7B, locking element  542  does not extend across or span the opening, thus permitting the opening of constraining apparatus  530  in order to access and remove the contents of object  500 . As shown in the Figure, the locking element is a bar but any other locking apparatus for securing the constraining apparatus falls within the scope of this invention.  
     [0053] In one embodiment of the invention, the locking apparatus comprises multiple components. For example, the locking apparatus may be made up of elements comprising a telescoping bar that extends into or behind the side of object  500 , when extended, to prevent the constraining apparatus  530  from opening. When the elements of the telescoping bar are retracted, constraining apparatus  530  can be opened. In one embodiment of the invention the locking apparatus provides an opening for inserting a securing element (e.g., a lock, padlock, combination lock, or pin).  
     [0054] Various other constraining and locking apparatuses fall within the scope of what is contemplated by the invention. Constraining and locking apparatuses may, for example, be any apparatus configured to restrict movement of object contents from an opening in the object. Any other alternative method for a constraining and locking apparatus to control access to the contents of the object falls within the scope of the invention. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the constraining apparatus may comprise a solid, a screen, a lattice, bars or any other obstruction that prevents entry or removal of components. In one embodiment, the constraining apparatus has an anchoring attachment element that has a design that complements the shape of at least one surface of object  500 . The reader should note that a constraining apparatus anchoring attachment element may contain any number of pieces and take any shape that can be coupled with object  500 .  
     [0055] The anchoring attachment element is defined in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention to be any feature disposed adjacent to any surface of object  500  located in proximity with the opening used to move items from or to the opening. The anchoring attachment element may, for example, have a portion adhered to any aspect of object  500 .  
     [0056] In other embodiments, the manner of connection of constraining apparatus  530  to object  500  may vary. For example, constraining apparatus  530  may comprise multiple portions which are adapted to engage each other. One end of each portion of constraining apparatus  530  may be connected to object  500 , while opposing ends are adapted to selectively engage one another, such as in a locking fashion. When engaged and locked, the portions of constraining apparatus  530  may extend across or span an opening in object  500 . When the portions of constraining apparatus  530  are disconnected, the opening is not obstructed.  
     [0057] In one or more embodiments, constraining apparatus  530  may be connected to object  500  in more than one location through connections that are removable. For example, constraining apparatus  530  may be connected to object  500  at several positions with locking mechanisms in place of hinges or pivots.  
     [0058] While an apparatus for securing moveable objects within a support rack has been described in detail, and numerous examples of its operation have been given, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that these are merely exemplary and that other implementations of these and various further aspects of the invention are also within its scope and extent. The invention is therefore not limited by the above exemplary description, but only by the following claims and the full scope of any equivalents.