Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus relating to a support bracket ( 18 ) enabling hot-swapping of component trays ( 16 ) in component racks ( 10 ) is disclosed. A bracket ( 18 ) is provided for removably mounting a tray ( 16 ) in a component rack ( 10 ). The bracket ( 18 ) has two guide channels ( 20 ) extending substantially from a front end of the bracket ( 18 ) through to a back end. The guide channel ( 20 ) is adapted for sliding engagement with the component carrying tray ( 16 ). In addition, there is at least one stop guide ( 30 ) that projects from each of the front and back ends of the bracket ( 18 ). This stop guide ( 30 ) aids in positioning the bracket ( 18 ) during installation. On a backside of the bracket ( 18 ), there is a detent ( 32 ) that projects outward. The detent ( 32 ) serves as an aid in positioning and releasably holding the bracket ( 18 ) in place during installation. The configuration of the bracket ( 18 ) allows it to be used as either a bottom bracket ( 18 ) or a top bracket ( 18 ) for mounting a tray ( 16 ), without any additional modifications.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to assemblies for removably mounting component trays in a rack storage system and more particularly to removably mounting fan trays more easily and efficiently without having to shut down surrounding components. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Users of computer equipment are increasingly demanding that the equipment be easily accessible and replaceable. Often times, equipment is placed on trays to facilitate easy removal and replacement. As computer equipment often performs critical tasks, it is desirable to not have to power down the equipment to perform maintenance and replacement tasks. This ability is known as “hot-swapping,” and is a desirable feature in current systems. 
     The trays that are used to slidably mount the equipment must be supported by brackets that allow the trays to slide in and out of the computer racks. In the past, the brackets have been single structures extending from an upper location, down to a lower location. It is desirable not to have a large, cumbersome structure making up these brackets that takes up space, requires more material to make, and is cumbersome to use. 
     SUMMARY 
     For the foregoing reasons, there exists in the art a need for support brackets for removably mounting fan trays and other component carrying trays in a manner that enables hot swapping and promotes better efficiency. In accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention, a bracket is provided for removably mounting a tray in a component rack. The bracket has at least one guide channel extending substantially from a front end of the bracket through to a back end. The guide channel is adapted for sliding engagement with the component carrying tray. In addition, there is at least one stop guide that projects from each of the front and back ends of the bracket. This stop guide aids in positioning the bracket during bracket installation. On a backside of the bracket, (the side opposite a tray-facing side), there is a detent that projects outward from the bracket. The detent serves as an aid in positioning and releasably holding the bracket in place while the bracket is being installed. The configuration of the bracket allows it to be used as either a bottom bracket or a top bracket for mounting a tray, without having to additionally modify the bracket. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment of the present invention, the guide channel contained within the bracket includes at least one raised runner. The runner or runners are positioned along a base portion of the guide channel, and extend from one end of the channel to the other. They serve to decrease frictional resistance when a tray is being inserted, and also decrease static charge build-up. 
     In accordance with yet another example embodiment of the present invention, the bracket includes a plurality of threaded inserts embedded in each of the front and back ends of the bracket. These threaded inserts are utilized in anchoring the bracket to the tray with threaded fasteners. 
     In accordance with still another example embodiment of the present invention, the bracket contains a plurality of through holes. The through holes are positioned in various locations along the base of the guide channel. Fasteners are inserted through each of the holes to mount the bracket into a desired component rack. 
     It should be noted that other example embodiments can include a bracket having two or more guide channels. The channels in such instances run substantially parallel to each other and extend from the front end through to the back end of the bracket. Each of the guide channels include at least one raised runner following along the base of each of the channels. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The aforementioned features and advantages, and other features and aspects of the present invention, will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer component rack with multiple brackets installed, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tray-facing side of a bracket according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a back side of the bracket according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, the present invention includes a bracket for removably mounting a tray, such as a fan tray, in a computer component rack. The bracket includes various structural aids to help in installing the bracket in the component rack. The bracket is structurally symmetrical such that a first bracket can be utilized in a bottom location and an identical copy of the first bracket can be utilized as a second bracket in a top location. Each of the brackets includes a channel along which a tray slides to ultimately be held in place by the brackets. The channels include raised runners along the base of the channel that help to reduce the frictional resistance on the trays as they are inserted, as well as reduce static charge build-up. 
     The present invention generally relates to a bracket  18  for removably mounting a tray  16  in a component rack  10 . The bracket  18  includes at least one (in a particular embodiment, two) guide channels  20 . Most often, the bracket  18  is mounted in two locations, one at either end (e.g., top and bottom interior walls) of a compartment  12  in which it is desirable for a computer component tray  16  to be slidably mounted. The bracket  18  is designed to fit in opposite positions to other like brackets  18  within a compartment  12  with a mere flip and/or rotation for proper orientation at installation, but without any further modifications. The guide channels  20  include raised runners  22 , which reduce frictional resistance during the insertion of a tray  16  into the bracket  18 , and also cut down on static charge build-up. The guide channels  20  support a component carrying tray  16  after being slid into the brackets  18 , and promote the installation and removal of a computer component tray  16  into a component rack  10  with greater efficiency and ease of use. 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate example embodiments of a bracket  18  for removably mounting a tray  16  in a component rack  10  according to the present invention. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the example embodiments illustrated in the figures, it should be noted that the present invention can be embodied in many alternative forms. In addition, any suitable size, shape, or type of elements or materials can be utilized. 
     In general, the computer component rack  10 , is a large rectangular structure. The rack shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example of the type of structure or framework in which the present invention bracket  18  may be installed. Typically, each component rack  10  includes within it several compartments  12 . These compartments  12 , provide space for the mounting of various component trays  16  containing within them various components  14 . Each component  14  can be computer-related hardware, a fan, a group of fans, a data storage device, or other electronic media. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention a fan assembly  17  makes up the particular component  14  within the component tray  16 . Fan assembly  17  mounts within component tray  16 , which is removably mountable within a compartment  12  of the component rack  10  by means of mounting brackets  18 . The brackets  18  are mounted within component rack  10  in a manner that will be further discussed at a later point herein. 
     The brackets  18  discussed herein can be used to mount fan assemblies  17  or other types of components and component trays. However, the present invention works particularly well with the fan assembly  17  illustrated herein. Further, the fan assembly  17  illustrated shows two fans. However, the fan assembly can include any number of fans or other components and the fans or components can have alternate designs or configurations, as desired. 
     In a broadest sense of the invention, only one bracket  18  is necessary to support a component tray  16 . When only one bracket  18  is used, the bracket  18  installs in a compartment  12  of a component rack  10  in a bottom location, tray-side facing where the component tray  16  will ultimately be inserted, such that the component tray  16  can slide into the guide channel  20  and be held in place. 
     However, the component tray  16  is better supported if two brackets  18   a,    18   b  are utilized in conjunction with each other. In such an instance, a first bracket  18   a  mounts in the bottom location of the compartment  12 . Subsequently, a second bracket  18   b  mounts in a top location of compartment  12 . The bracket  18   b  is identical in shape, configuration, and structure to the first bracket  18   a  mounted in the bottom location. However, the second bracket  18   b  is flipped, such that the tray side again faces the direction of where the component tray  16  will ultimately be inserted, causing the channels  20  to face an interior of the compartment  12 . A detent  32  (see FIG. 3) is useful in the installation of the bracket  18  in several instances, especially in the top location bracket  18   b  as will be discussed at a later point herein. 
     It should be noted that the installation illustrated herein shows bottom and top brackets  18   a ,  18   b , but the installation can position a bracket  18  on each of a left interior wall and a right interior wall of a compartment  12 , or even front and back interior compartment  12  walls. The bracket  18  can function alone, or in conjunction with another like bracket  18  in a location opposite, and facing, the first. It does not necessarily matter where the pair of brackets  18  are positioned relative to the interior of the compartment  12  itself. 
     Once the top and bottom brackets  18   a ,  18   b  mount into the compartment  12  of the desired component rack  10 , the user may then proceed with the installation of a component tray  16 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the brackets  18  each secure within the compartment  12  by means of threaded fasteners  23 , (e.g., screws), inserted into through holes  24 . Each of the through holes  24  include the feature of a recessed rim, which allows the threaded fasteners  23  to screw into the component rack  10  to a point where the heads of the threaded fasteners  23  are substantially flush with the surface of the guide channel  20 . 
     FIG. 2 further illustrates an isolated view of the bracket  18  according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the bracket  18  includes two guide channels  20 . The number of guide channels  20  can vary depending upon the particular application or desire. The shape of the guide channels  20  can also vary. In this embodiment, the guide channels  20  are formed by three relatively planar, straight, sides. Alternatively, the sides of the guide channels can be non-planar, curved, have peaks and valleys, include surface features such as gripping detents, etc. Further, the sides do not need to be solid. The guide channel  20  surfaces can be perforated, meshed, grided, contain substantial apertures, etc. for manufacturing and performance advantages, as desired. There can also be springing clamps, or mounts, extending from a guide channel  20  surface that apply pressure and frictional force to the trays  16  to better hold them in place. 
     A pair of raised runners  22  follows along a base  21  of each guide channel  20  in the illustrated embodiment. The runners  22  extend from one end of each guide channel  20  to the other. In one example instance, the runners  22  had dimensions of 0.03 inches high and 0.10 inches wide. It should be noted that these runners  22  can be of greater or lesser number, and can be on other surface locations of the guide channels  20 . Further, the runners  22  can be of a different material, such as, e.g., Teflon®, metal, composite, or other plastic. These raised runners  22  serve several purposes. As the component tray  16  (e.g., fan assembly  17 ) inserts into the bracket  18 , it slides along only the surface of each raised runner  22 . This raises the component tray  16  off of the base  21  of the guide channel  20  thus reducing the risk of the component tray  16  catching on any threaded fasteners  23  that were poorly fitting fasteners or may not have been completely or properly screwed into the bracket  18  and component rack  10 . Further the raised runner  22  surface area is far less than that of the entire guide channel  20  itself. In turn, the contact surface area between the raised runners  20  and the component tray  16  is less, which provides for lower frictional resistance on the component tray  16  as it slides into the bracket  18 . A further advantage is that with less frictional resistance, there is a reduced amount of static charge build-up. Static charges can be detrimental to the types of computer components  14  stored within the trays  16 , and thus there is commonly a desire to reduce such build-ups. 
     The bracket  18  shown includes four through holes  24  along each guide channel  20  base  21 . When mounting the bracket  18  to the compartment  12  of the component rack  10 , often threaded, or other type, fasteners (not shown) insert into these through holes  24  to mount the bracket  18  in place. Of course, the number of through holes  24  can vary from one to a plurality. Each through hole  24  has a recessed beveled edge which makes it possible to screw a screw further down, essentially until a top most portion of the screw head is flush with the base  21  of the guide channel  20 . This reduces the risk of a tray  16  edge being caught on a fastener while sliding into the component rack  10 . 
     There are raised edges  26  along a front portion and a back portion of the bracket  18 . The raised edges  26  contain a plurality of ultrasonically installed threaded inserts  28 . The raised edges  26  help to inhibit a user from inserting a component tray  16  too far into each guide channel  20 . Once a component tray  16  fully inserts into the guide channel  20 , threaded fasteners  29  screw into each of the threaded inserts  28  to hold the particular component tray  16  in place. The raised edges  26  may be of almost any desired shape, length, extension, etc., and serve the same function. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, bracket  18  also includes several stop guides  30  and the detent  32 . The stop guides  30  help to position the bracket  18  upon initial installation into the compartment  12  of the component rack  10 . There are stop guides  30  on each end of the bracket  18 , which contribute to the ability of the bracket  18  to mount in a bottom location, or flip and install in a top location. The stop guides  30  illustrated are merely extensions of the base  21  of the guide channels  20 . However, the stop guides can be at any location outside of each end of the bracket  18 . Their main purpose is to interfere with a back wall of the compartment  12  in which the bracket  18  is installed, at a time when the bracket  18  is in the desired position. They can be of numerous shapes, e.g., posts, blocks, spheres, half-spheres, arms, or any other shape that will effectively signal to an installer that the bracket  18  is in the proper location upon installation. 
     The detent  32  is useful in releasably positioning the bracket  18  when mounted in, e.g., a top position. As shown, the detent  32  has a hook-like (e.g., an upside-down “L” shape) structure. However, the detent  32  can also vary in shape, size, and location. With regard to shape, the functionality of the detent  32  is what is desired. The detent  32 , in an example embodiment, is located on the posterior, or back side of the second bracket  18   b.  This shape helps to releasably mount the top bracket in position prior to installation of the threaded fasteners through the through holes  24 . The user lines up the detent  32  with an aperture located in the top portion of the compartment  12  (see FIG.  1 ), and inserts the detent  32  through the aperture (not shown) such that the detent  32  supports the rate of the bracket  18   b  in the proper position for final mounting. As an alternative to an aperture, another hook, or post, etc., can mate with the detent  32 . The threaded fasteners then screw into the through holes  24  of the bracket  18   b  mounting it in place. The detent  32  allows a bracket  18  installer to “hang” the bracket  18  in an upper interior wall of a compartment  12 , holding the bracket  18  in position as fasteners are inserted to mount the bracket  18  in place. The size and location of the detent  32  rely upon the size and location of the particular aperture or hook in the compartment  12  upon which the detent  32  hangs during installation of the bracket  18 . These elements must align, when the bracket is in the proper position, to serve their purpose. 
     Bracket  18  is preferably made of a resilient structural plastic, such as PC/ABS plastic. Typically the bracket  18  is manufactured using a standard injection molding process. Other materials and manfucturing techniques known to one skilled in the art can be employed in producing the bracket  18  of the present invention. 
     Having described the apparatus of the present invention, and with reference to FIGS. 1-3, the method of guiding and removably mounting a computer component tray  16  containing a component  14  in a component rack  10  can be set forth. The method begins with the step of sliding a first edge of a component tray  16 , such as fan assembly  17 , along one of the guide channels  20  in the bottom rack  18   a . The component tray  16  then rotates upward such that a top edge of the component tray  16  comes into contact with the opposing guide channel  20  in the top bracket  18   b.  If the user desires, the component tray  16  can be inserted into both brackets  18   a ,  18   b , simultaneously, or into the top bracket  18   b  first. 
     Next the user slides the component tray  16  toward the back of the compartment  12  along the guide channels  20  of the top and bottom brackets  18   a ,  18   b.  Once the component tray  16  reaches a back portion of the compartment  12 , and a front portion of the component tray  16  meets with the raised edges  26 , the user knows that the component tray  16  has been fully inserted. At such time, if desired, the user may insert threaded fasteners  29  through apertures on the component tray  16  and into the threaded inserts  28  along the raised edges  26  of each of the top and bottom brackets  18   a ,  18   b  to secure the component tray  16  in place. 
     Typically a plug-connector, e.g., made by Molex, Inc. (not shown), makes the electrical connection between the particular component tray  16  and the component rack  10 . The connector could be of the type, for example, serial, parallel, or USB. As the component tray  16  slides into the component rack  10 , the male and female portions of the particular plug configuration are lined up and eventually mate once the component tray  16  is fully stowed. Alternatively, a connection could be made with a cord or other extended plug independent of the stowing of the component tray  16 . 
     Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the invention. Details of the structure may vary substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and exclusive use of all modifications that come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. It is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7