Patent Application
20050061755
Network operating center personnel often employ frames to support items in a computer room. Existing frames comprise pedestal devices and rack-mount devices. A pedestal device supports the item in a pedestal or vertical orientation to reduce floor space required by an item. A rack-mount device supports the item in a rack-mount or horizontal orientation to allow stacking of multiple items.
The invention in one implementation encompasses an apparatus. The apparatus comprises one or more support members that are alignable substantially along directions that are identifiable through reference to mutually perpendicular x, y, and z axes. The one or more support members comprise first, second, third, and fourth support members that are connectable upon alignment of the first support member substantially in parallel with the y axis, the second support member substantially in parallel with the y axis approximately at a z offset with respect to the z axis, the third support member substantially in parallel with the z axis approximately at an x offset with respect to the x axis, and the fourth support member substantially in parallel with the z axis approximately at both the x offset and the y offset.
Another implementation of the invention encompasses an apparatus. An item comprises a first major face and a second major face that are aligned substantially in parallel. The apparatus comprises means for supporting the first major face of the item along a first general direction. The apparatus comprises means for supporting the second major face of the item along a second general direction, where the first general direction and the second general direction comprise substantially orthogonal directions.
Yet another implementation of the invention comprises encompasses a method. An item comprises a first major face and a second major face that are aligned substantially in parallel. One or more support members are assembled into a freestanding frame that supports the first major face of the item along a first general direction and the second major face of the item along a second general direction, where the first general direction and the second general direction comprise substantially orthogonal directions.
Features of exemplary implementations of the invention will become apparent from the description, the claims, and the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to the BACKGROUND section above, the pedestal device cannot be easily stacked or converted to support the item in the horizontal orientation. The rack-mount device cannot be converted to support the item in the vertical orientation. The rack-mount device also requires a large initial investment in hardware components, which decreases cost efficiency for supporting only a few items. The pedestal and rack-mount devices also require tools for configuration by a user.
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One or more components of the apparatus 100 in one example are locatable with reference to an x axis 102, a y axis 104, and a z axis 106. The x, y, and z axes 102, 104, and 106 comprise mutually perpendicular axes, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
In one example, the apparatus 100 comprises one or more support members, for example, support members 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, and 126. The support members 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, and 126 are directly and/or indirectly connectable with each other. The support members 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, and 126 in one example serve to support an item 127.
The support members 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, and 126 in one example are connected with each other through employment of one or more connector components 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, and 142. In a further example, one or more of the support members 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, and 126 and one or more of the connector components 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, and 142 comprise one or more integrated and/or unitary components. For example, the support member 114 and the connector component 142 may be combined to comprise one integrated component. A frame 143 in one example comprises the support members 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, and 142 and the one or more connector components. For example, the frame 143 comprises the support members 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, and 126 and the connector components 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, and 142. The frame 143 in one example comprises a freestanding frame. One or more support members of the frame 143 serve to support the item 127 in any one orientation of a plurality of available orientations with respect to a base 144, as described herein. The item 127 in one example comprises one or more of a computer, a network switch, and a power supply.
The support member 108 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the y axis 104. The support member 110 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the y axis 104 approximately at a z offset with respect to the z axis 108. The support member 112 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the z axis 106 approximately at an x offset with respect to the x axis 102. The support member 114 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the z axis 106 approximately at both the x offset and at a y offset with respect to the y axis 104.
The support member 116 in one example is connected with the support member 108 and the support member 112. In one example, the support member 116 is connected with a first end of the support member 108 and a first end of the support member 112 through employment of the connector components 128 and 130, respectively. In a further example, the support member 116 comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the x axis 102. The support member 118 in one example is connected with the support member 108 and the support member 114. In one example, the support member 118 is connected with a second end of the support member 108 and a first end of the support member 114 through employment of the connector components 132 and 134, respectively. In a further example, the support member 118 comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the x axis 102 approximately at the y offset. The support member 120 in one example is connected with the support member 110 and the support member 112. In one example, the support member 120 is connected with a first end of the support member 110 and a second end of the support member 112 through employment of the connector components 136 and 138, respectively. In a further example, the support member 120 comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the x axis 102 approximately at the z offset. The support member 122 in one example is connected with the support member 110 and the support member 114. In one example, the support member 122 is connected with a second end of the support member 110 and a second end of the support member 114 through employment of the connector components 140 and 142, respectively. In a further example, the support member 122 comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the x axis 102 approximately at both the y offset and the z offset.
The support member 124 in one example is connected with one or more of the support member 116 and the support member 118. In a further example, the support member 124 is connected with one or more of the first end of the support member 112 and the first end of the support member 114 through employment of the connector components 130 and 134, respectively. The support member 126 in one example is connected with one or more of the support member 120 and the support member 122. In a further example, the support member 126 is connected with one or more of the second end of the support member 112 and the second end of the support member 114 through employment of the connector components 138 and 142, respectively. In one example, the support member 124 and the support member 126 abut the item 127. In a further example, the frame 143 employs one or more screws and/or bolts and one or more apertures of the support members 124 and 126 to connect the item 127 to the support members 124 and 126.
The frame 143 in one example serves to support the item 127. The item 127 in one example conforms to an “EIA RS-310” standard (Electronic Industries Alliance, Arlington, Va., http://www.eia.org). The support members 108 and 110 in one example comprise a same length. In a further example, the support members 112 and 114 comprise a same length. A ratio of the length of the support members 108 and 110 to the length of the support members 112 and 114 comprises a ratio to support an item 127 that complies with an Electronic Industries Alliance (“EIA”) RS-310 standard, for example, a “4U” standard.
The support members of the frame 143 in one example comprise a shape and/or orientation that promote a decrease in cost of manufacture. In a still further example, the shape and/or orientation of the support members of the frame 143 promote a variety of orientations of the frame 143. One or more of the support members 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, and 122 in one example serve to abut the base 144 to support the item 127 in one or more orientations with respect to the base 144. In one example, referring to
The frame 143 in one example provides an outer barrier to the item 127 to promote an increase in protection from other solid objects. For example, at least two of the support members of the frame 143 comprise a face of an outer barrier to the item 127. The frame 143 in one example serves to promote a free flow of air around a perimeter of the item 127. For example, the support members of the frame 143 contemporaneously abut one or more first portions of the item 127 and promote and expose one or more second portions of the item 127 to a free flow of air about a perimeter of the item 127. The frame 143 in one example comprises one or more panels and/or bezels along the outer barrier to the item 127. For example, the panels and/or bezels promote a decrease in perception of noise generated by the item 127. The frame 143 in one example comprises only eight support members, instead of twelve support members for forming a box structure.
One or more support members of the frame 143 in one example comprise one or more tubular structures. Exemplary materials for construction of the support member comprise steel, aluminum, other metals and/or alloys, and man-made materials such as plastic and nylon. The support members of the frame 143 in one example comprise a material and shape to promote an increase in ease of mobility of the frame 143. For example, a lightweight plastic tubular structure that slides easily on a hard and/or carpeted floor. The tubular structure promotes an increase in ease of mobility by a user. For example, a diameter of the tubular structure allows a user to easily grip the frame 143.
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The integrated components and/or support members of the frame 143 may be combined and/or divided. In one example, the support member 108, the support member 116, the support member 118, and the support member 124 are combined and comprise an integrated component to promote an increase in structural strength. In another example, the support members of the frame 143 are combined to promote a decrease in a number of parts and/or cost to manufacture. In yet another example, the support member 112 and the support member 114 are divided, as described herein, to promote an increase in ease of transportation, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
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The frame 143 and the frame 601 in one example are stacked to form a freestanding arrangement 602. The frame 601 comprises support members 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 622, and 624. The support members 606, 608, 610, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 622, and 624 are alignable substantially along the directions that are identifiable through reference to the mutually perpendicular x, y, and z axes, where the x offset comprises a first x offset.
The support member 606 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the y axis 104 approximately at a second x offset with respect to the x axis 102. The support member 608 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the y axis 104 approximately at both the second x offset and the z offset. The support member 610 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the z axis 106 approximately at a third x offset that comprises a combination of the first x offset and the second x offset. The support member 612 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the z axis 106 approximately at both the third x offset and the y offset. The support member 614 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the x axis 102 approximately at the second x offset. The support member 616 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the x axis 102 approximately at both the second x offset and the y offset. The support member 618 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the x axis 102 approximately at both the second x offset and the z offset. The support member 620 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the x axis 102 approximately at the second x offset, the y offset, and the z offset. The support member 622 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the y axis 104 approximately at the second x offset. The support member 624 in one example comprises an alignment substantially in parallel with the y axis 104 approximately at both the second x offset and the z offset.
The support members 124 and 126 in one example abut the support members 606 and 608, respectively. In a further example, the connector component 604 serve to connect the support member 124 and the support member 606, and the support member 126 and the support member 608, respectively.
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The steps or operations described herein are just exemplary. There may be many vacations to these steps or operations without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted, or modified.
Although exemplary implementations of the invention have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
