Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to equipment mounting and, more particularly, to a pivoting equipment mounting bracket. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Telecommunications systems, cable television systems, and data communication networks use optical networks to rapidly convey large amounts of information between remote points. In an optical network, information is conveyed in the form of optical signals through optical fibers. Optical fibers comprise thin strands of glass capable of transmitting the signals over long distances with very low loss. Optical networks provide higher capacity and reduced operating costs compared to traditional technologies. Fiber-optic networks may include a system of multiple network components, including switches, routers, converters, modulators, demodulators, etc. 
         [0003]    A communications network may include one or more communication cabinets. Communication cabinets are used to store, or house, a variety of communication equipment, allow organization of the equipment, and permit interconnection of different communication cables. A communication cabinet may include a structure that provides a bay for mounting various components of the communication network. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, and assembly for mounting components of equipment is disclosed. The assembly includes a mount assembly configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. The mount assembly includes a first and second mount. Each mount has a plunger to allow rotation of the mount assembly, and an end for attachment to a component of equipment. The assembly further includes a first brace coupled to the first mount and a second brace coupled to the second mount. Each brace has a first end for attachment to a surface, a second end having an open hem to retain the respective mount, a plurality of pivot holes configured to receive the plunger, and a pivot point coupling the respective mount and the brace. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication cabinet for components of equipment is disclosed. The cabinet includes a mount assembly configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. The mount assembly includes a first and second mount. Each mount has a plunger to allow rotation of the mount assembly, and an end for attachment to a component of equipment. The cabinet further includes a first brace coupled to the first mount and a second brace coupled to the second mount. Each brace has a first end for attachment to a surface, a second end having an open hem to retain the respective mount, a plurality of pivot holes configured to receive the plunger, and a pivot point coupling the respective mount and the brace. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an exemplary pivoting equipment mounting bracket assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate two sides of an example brace for a pivoting equipment mounting bracket in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary mount assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Embodiments of the present disclosure and its advantages are best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1A-3  of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. 
         [0011]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate an exemplary pivoting equipment mounting bracket assembly  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 1A  show assembly  100  in a closed, storage, or retracted position.  FIG. 1B  shows assembly  100  in a maintenance or extended position. Assembly  100  may include braces  106  and mount assembly  108 . Assembly  100  may be utilized to mount and store one or more communication equipment  104 . For example, equipment  104  may include power modules, switching equipment, or any other suitable communication components. In some embodiments, mount assembly  108  may be configured to support equipment  104  and pivot relative to braces  106 . Extending assembly  100  may allow an operator to change settings, connect or disconnect cables, insert or remove equipment, or perform any other suitable maintenance that may not be possible or easy to accomplish when equipment  104  is in the fully retracted position. When fully retracted, equipment  104  may be stored substantially vertically allowing the use of shallow cabinets and other cabinets with spatial constraints. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure increase of accessibility of equipment  104  for maintenance, removal, and/or installation. 
         [0012]    Assembly  100  may be located in any suitable communication cabinet. For example assembly  100  may be located in communication cabinet  102 , in a rack, or attached directly to a wall or other surface outside of any cabinet or rack. In some embodiments, communication cabinet  102  may be any one of a variety of telecommunication cabinets, electrical cabinets, outside plant cabinets, central office cabinets, service area interface, access point, cross box, cross-connect box, or any other suitable cabinet designed to store communication equipment. For example, cabinet  102  may be an outside plant cabinet. Communication cabinet  102  may be configured to provide a relatively small footprint and simplify cable connections between various components. 
         [0013]    Cabinet  102  may be adapted for storage and operation of multiple communication components. For example, cabinet  102  may include computers, cables, switches and/or other suitable communication components. Cabinet  102  may be configured to be a stand-alone cabinet, mounted to a wall or other surface, or otherwise configured for a suitable application. Cabinet  102  may be any standard or non-standard cabinet. Standard cabinets are generally compliant with industry accepted standards which dictate their dimensions, physical strength, and other characteristics, while non-standard cabinets may be compliant with a portion or none of such industry standards. The dimensions of cabinet  102  may be based on the dimensions of the equipment to be installed in cabinet  102 . For example, the width of cabinet  102  may be based on the standard width of telecommunication equipment. The depth of cabinet  102  may vary based on available space and equipment to be stored and accessed. For example, cabinet  102  may be a shallow cabinet such that communication equipment  104  may have to be stored substantially vertically inside cabinet  102 . Further, cabinet  102  may include a cover or door. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, assembly  100  may include two braces  106 . Braces  106  provide mechanical support to mount assembly  108  and equipment  104 . When installed, braces  106  are rigidly secured to cabinet  102 , or other surface, on opposing sides of equipment  104  and, when mounted in cabinet  102 , are interposed between equipment  104  and the sides of cabinet  102 . Braces  106  may be located on the left and right sides of equipment  104  from the perspective of a person facing the front of cabinet  102 . However, in some embodiments, equipment  104  may be rotated and braces  106  may be configured on top and bottom of equipment  104  from the perspective of a person facing the front of cabinet  102 , or at any other angle based on the specific implementation. 
         [0015]    Further details of brace  106  are shown with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  that illustrate two sides of an example brace  106  for a pivoting equipment mounting bracket in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2A  shows a side of brace  106  that faces away from mount assembly  110  and equipment  106  when installed.  FIG. 2B  shows the side of brace  106  that faces toward mount assembly  110  and equipment  106  when installed. Brace  106  may include flange  112 , one or more mounting holes  114 , one or more pivot holes  120 , pivot point  122 , lance  124 , guard  126 , and open hem  128 . 
         [0016]    Brace  106  may include one end with flange  112  configured to attach to a surface. For example, flange  112  may attach with screws or other suitable hardware to cabinet  102 , a rack, a wall, or any other suitable surface. Flange  112  may include one or more mounting holes  114  that may be circular, oval, slotted, or any other suitable configuration to allow brace  106  to be rigidly attached to a surface to which it is secured. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, brace  106  may include one or more pivot holes  120  and pivot point  122 . Pivot holes  120  may extend through brace  106 , and may be spaced apart on an arched section of brace  106 . Pivot point  122  may be the point about which mount assembly  108  rotates. Referring to  FIG. 1A , pivot point  122  may include any hardware or mechanism for coupling brace  106  and mount  110 . For example, pivot point  122  may include a spring-loaded plunger, a screw and corresponding nut, a screw and threaded hole, or any other hardware or combination or hardware. In the current example, pivot point  122  includes a spring-loaded plunger that, when engaged, extends through and couples brace  106  and mount  110  while allowing mount assembly  108  to rotate. Pivot point  122  may be proximate to guard  126 , which may serve to prevent accidental disengagement of a spring-loaded plunger located at pivot point  122 . Pivot holes  120  are configured and located to receive spring-loaded plunger  116  attached to mount assembly  108 . When spring-loaded plunger  116  is disengaged, for example rotated and pulled out, mount assembly  108  may be allowed to rotate a number of degrees, for example, approximately fifteen degrees. When rotation of mount assembly  108  is completed, spring-loaded plunger  116  may reengage by extending through brace  106  and mount  110  and lock mount assembly  108  in place. Pivot holes  120  may be placed to allow mount assembly  108  to rotate about pivot point  122  a defined number of degrees before stopping. For example, pivot holes  120  may be spaced to allow approximately 15 degrees of rotation between pivot holes  120 . In the current example, there may be four pivot holes  120  resulting in a total rotation of approximately 45 degrees. However, pivot holes  120  may be located to result in any suitable amount of total or partial rotation per the specific implementation. Additionally, brace  106  may include one or more lances  124  for directing and securing cables as needed. Use of lances  124  may assist in ensuring that cables or other wires do not interfere with pivoting motion. 
         [0018]    Further, in some embodiments, brace  106  may include open hem  128  as shown in detail in  FIG. 2B . Open hem  128  may also be referred to as a “curved section.” Open hem  128  be configured to serve as a stop or support when assembly  100  is in the fully retracted position as shown with reference to  FIG. 1A . For example, when mount assembly  108  is rotated such that equipment  104  is substantially vertical, an edge of mount  110  may contact the inner radius of open hem  128 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary mount assembly  108  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Mount assembly  108  includes two mounts  110  that may include spring-loaded plunger  116  and plunger support arm  118 . In some embodiments, mount assembly  108  may include a tray  142 , also shown with reference to  FIG. 1B , configured between mounts  110 . Tray  142  may be of a particular length and provide additional support to equipment  104 . For example, tray  142  may be dimensioned to accommodate equipment  104  that is a standard size, such as 19 inches or 23 inches, or any other suitable dimensions. Further, tray  142  may be configured to adjust between multiple dimensions. Tray  142  may be attached to mounts  110  using screws, threaded holes, rivets, or any other suitable hardware or attachment mechanism. However, in some embodiments, tray  142  may not be included in mount assembly  108 . In such a case, braces  106  and mounts  110  may be spaced apart by any predefined distance to accommodate the dimensions of equipment  104 . 
         [0020]    Mount  110  may include sets of attachment holes  140   a - 140   d  (collectively “attachment holes  140 ”) for attaching plunger support arm  118 . Attachment holes  140  may be placed to confine the degree of rotation of mount assembly  108  to rotate about pivot point  122  to a defined number of degrees before stopping. For example, attachment holes  140  may be spaced to allow approximately 15 degrees of rotation between attachment holes  140 . In the current example, there may be four sets of attachment holes  140   a - 140   d . Placing arm  118  in the set of attachment holes  140   a  may allow little or no rotation for mount assembly  108 . However, placing arm  118  in attachment holes  140   d  may allow the maximum rotation for mount assembly  108 , e.g., approximately 45 degrees. Attachment holes  140  may be located to result in any suitable amount of rotation per the specific implementation. Thus, the amount of rotation allowed for mount assembly  108  may be based on both the location of arm  118  in attachment holes  140  and the location of pivot holes  120  on braces  106 . 
         [0021]    Mounts  110  may include attachment end  132  for attachment of one or more components of equipment  104 . Attachment end  132  may include multiple holes  134  spaced as needed to accommodate brackets or other mounting hardware included with equipment  104 . For example, spacing of holes  134  may be based on a EIA wide format, universal standard, metric spacing, not-standard spacing, or any other suitable spacing. Further mounts  110  may include one or more lances  136  to route and secure cabling as needed. Use of lances  136  may assist in ensuring that cables or other wires do not interfere with pivoting motion. 
         [0022]    Any portion of assembly  100  may be constructed of any suitable material. For example, any portions of assembly  100  may be low carbon cold finished steel with an electroplated zinc coating, stainless steel, aluminum, or any other suitable material to provide sufficient support to equipment  104 . 
         [0023]    The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

Technology Category: 5