Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6523918
-
Patent Number
6,523,918
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, April 24, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 25, 200322 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Handley; Mark W.
- Chauza & Handley, L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 312 2651
- 312 2652
- 312 2653
- 312 350
- 312 351
- 312 2231
- 312 2232
- 312 311
- 312 3301
- 312 3341
- 211 26
- 211 151
- 248 28911
- 016 319
- 016 374
- 211 183
- 211 189
- 211 190
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A pivot mounting bracket (12) for a server rack (2) includes a bracket plate (18), a pivot member (20) and a clasp member (26), which are pivotally mounted to a pin (36). The pivot member (20) has two spaced apart mounting ears (34) for receiving the pin (36). Two clips (38) secure the pin (36) within the mounting ears (34). A slot (24) extends in the pivot member (20) for receiving a thumb screw (22). The clasp member (26) has a threaded hole (28) for receiving an end (30) of the thumb screw (22) to clamp the pivot member (20) and the clasp member (26) to the server rack frame (14). The clasp member (26) includes two locating tabs (32) which extend at right angles to a main body (33) of the clasp member (26) for inserting within mounting apertures (16) of the server rack frame (14) to locate the clasp member (26) and the mounting bracket (12) relative to the rack frame (14).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Server system racks are provided for housing equipment, such as network servers, telephone switches, power supplies, and the like. Various components have been rigidly secured to the server system racks by use of fasteners. One type of such components which are secured to the server system racks are cable management arms for securing cables between the rack frames of the server system racks and equipment drawers which move relative to the server system rack frames. The cable management arms are secured to the server system racks such that linkages of the cable management arm are pivotally secured to the server system rack frames to allow the linkages of the cable management arm to fold and unfold as the equipment drawers are moved into and out of the server system racks. Cable management arms have been secured to the rack frames using threaded fasteners, which have included bolts and screws that require hand tools to secure the various components to the server system racks. Components can be assembled to server system racks much more quickly and efficiently without using fasteners that require hand tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A pivot mounting bracket is provided for mounting a cable management arm to a rack fame of a server system rack. The pivot mounting bracket mounts directly to a rack frame of a server system rack. Preferably, the rack frame is of the type having connected members in which are formed mounting apertures which are spaced apart in a regular pattern that runs the length of the connected members of the rack frame. The regular pattern of the apertures in rack frame preferably has different spacings between various ones of the apertures, in a repeating pattern. The pivot mounting bracket includes a bracket plate, a pivot member and a clasp member which are pivotally mounted to a pin member. The pin member provides a hinge pin which defines a hinge means that is common to the bracket plate, the pivot member and the clasp member. A thumb screw secures the pivot member and the clasp member together to clamp against opposite sides of a portion of the rack frame, with the bracket plate pivotally mounted to the pivot member and the clasp member by the hinge means. The bracket plate and the clasp member have tab portions which are formed into hinge loops for fitting around of the periphery of the pin member to pivotally secure the bracket plate and the clasp member to the pin member. The tab portions forming the hinge loops extend from singular ends of respective ones of the bracket plate and the clasp member. The pivot member has two mounting tabs that extend on opposite ends of a main body portion of the pivot member to define two lugs or mounting ears. The two mounting ears have respective apertures which are spaced apart and face one another for receiving the pin member. Two fasteners pivotally secure the pin member within the respective apertures of the mounting ears of the pivot member, with the hinge loops of the clasp member and the bracket plate fitting around the pin member and captured between the mounting ears of the pivot member.
Two clinch nuts are fixedly secured to in a main body of the clasp member. The two clinch nuts each have a threaded hole, and are secured to the clasp member in a spaced apart alignment to define two spaced apart, threaded holes in the clasp member. The clasp member further has two locating tabs which are spaced apart and extend at right angles to a plane of the main body of a clasp member. The two locating tabs are spaced apart for fitting into respective ones of two spaced apart mounting apertures of the server system rack frame to locate the pivot mounting bracket relative to the rack frame. At least one intermediate mounting aperture of the rack frame is disposed between the respective mounting apertures which receive the two locating tabs. The spacing between the clinch nuts is narrower than the spacing between the two locating tabs of the clasp member. The clinch nuts are positioned relative to the two locating tabs, such that one of the regularly spaced, intermediate mounting apertures in the rack frame will align with at least one of the threaded holes in the clinch nuts when either end of the clasp member is located in an upwards position relative to the other end of the clasp member. Whether the pivot mounting bracket is mounted in a right-hand position, to a right side of the server system rack, or in a left-hand position, to the left side of the server system rack, at least one of the threaded holes in the two clinch nuts will be aligned with one of the intermediate, regularly spaced mounting apertures in the rack frame when the two locating tabs of the clasp member are disposed in the two spaced apart mounting apertures.
A slot is formed in the pivot member for receiving the thumb screw, which is preferably captured within the slot. The slot in the pivot mounting bracket is located such that the captive thumb screw may be moved in the slot for selectively aligning with either one of the two clinch nuts, for passing a threaded end of the captive thumb screw through the intermediate mounting aperture and into the threaded hole of the respective one of the clinch nuts that is registered with the intermediate mounting aperture. The thumb screw is then threadingly engaged with the clinch nut. The slot in the pivot mounting bracket allows the thumb screw to move between two positions, a first position for registering with the threaded hole in a first one of the two clinch nuts and a second position for registering with the threaded hole in the other of the two clinch nuts, such that the pivot mounting bracket may be used in either a right-hand mounting position or a left-hand mounting position with respect to the rack frame of the server system rack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a server system rack having a pivot mounting bracket with a toolless fastener made according to the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a cable management arm included within the server system rack, with the pivot mounting bracket mounted to one end of the cable management arm;
FIG. 3
is an exploded, perspective view of the pivot mounting bracket, showing the various components thereof;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of the pivot mounting bracket and the frame of the server system rack, showing the pivot mounting bracket in an open position;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the pivot mounting bracket and the frame of the server system rack, showing the pivot mounting bracket in a latched position;
FIG. 6
is a sectional view of the pivot mounting bracket and the frame of the server system rack taken along section line
6
—
6
of
FIG. 5
, and showing the pivot mounting bracket in the latched position;
FIG. 7
is a sectional view of the pivot mounting bracket and the frame of the server system rack taken along section line
7
—
7
of
FIG. 5
, and showing the pivot mounting bracket the latched position; and
FIG. 8
is a partial, perspective view of the cable management arm and a second mounting bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a server system rack
2
having an equipment drawer
4
, which houses an electronics unit, such as a network server, a telephone switch, a power supply, or the like. A forward face of the equipment drawer
4
preferably has handles
6
and latches
7
. The equipment drawer
4
is slidably mounted to the server system rack
2
by two slide rails
8
, which extend between opposite sides of the equipment drawer
4
and the server system rack
2
. Preferably, the latches
7
can be released to allow the equipment drawer
4
to slide forward of the server system rack
2
on the slide rails
8
. Cabling
9
extends from the equipment drawer
4
to other components of the server system rack
2
. The cabling
9
is secured between the equipment drawer
4
and the server system rack by means of a cable management arm
10
.
The cable management arm
10
is shown in an extended position, or elongated, position. The cable management arm
10
is disposed in the extended position, or elongated position, when the equipment drawer
4
is moved to extend outward of the cabinet of the server system rack
2
. The frame
14
of the server system rack
2
is preferably of the type having regularly spaced apertures
16
(shown in FIGS.
4
and
5
), which are formed into the frame
14
, along longitudinally extending lengths of the frame
14
. A forward mounting bracket
15
secures a forward end of the cable management arm
10
to a rearward end of the equipment drawer
4
. A pivot mounting bracket
12
pivotally secures a rearward end of the cable management arm
10
to the server system rack frame
14
. The pivot mounting bracket
12
includes a toolless fastener for securing the pivot mounting bracket
12
, and the cable management arm
10
, directly to a rack frame
14
of the server system rack
2
. The toolless fastener for the mounting bracket
12
is provided by a thumbscrew
22
. (Shown in FIG.
3
).
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a cable management arm
10
, shown in a folded position, or retracted position, which is similar to the position in which the cable management arm
10
would be disposed if the equipment drawer
4
of
FIG. 1
were moved rearward, from the position shown in
FIG. 1
, into a stowed position, disposed fully within the cabinet of the server system rack
2
. The cable management arm
10
includes a plurality of linkages
11
, preferably three linkages
11
. A central one of the linkages
11
is shorter than the other two of the three linkages
11
. The forward mounting bracket
15
is preferably provided by a flat plate which is formed into a L-shaped bracket. The forward mounting bracket
15
is secured to the rearward portion the equipment drawer
4
(shown in
FIG. 1
) by a thumbscrew
17
, which is secured into a threaded hole in the rearward end of the equipment drawer
4
(shown in FIG.
1
).
A plurality of hinges
13
pivotally secure the mounting bracket
15
to the cable management arm
10
, and pivotally secure the various linkages
11
of the cable management arm
10
together for rotating about the axes
29
. The hinges
13
provide hinge means which include hinge pins
21
and various sockets defined by hinge loops
19
for pivotally receiving the hinge pins
21
. The hinge pins
21
have longitudinal axes
29
which define the axes about which the various linkages
11
of the cable management arm
10
rotate. The hinge pins
21
are received within the hinge loops
19
, and then secured in place with E-clips
38
(also shown in FIG.
3
), which are snap-ring type clips having a somewhat rounded, E-shape. The E-clips
39
engage within circumferentially extending grooves defined in the exterior periphery of the hinge pins
21
. One of the hinges
13
pivotally secures the pivot mounting bracket
12
to the rearward end of the cable management arm
10
, by means of one of the hinge pins
21
.
FIG. 3
is an exploded, perspective view of the pivot mounting bracket
12
showing the various components thereof. The pivot mounting bracket
12
includes a bracket plate
18
, a pivot member
20
and a clasp member
26
, which are pivotally mounted to a pin member
36
for rotating about the axis
39
. Preferably, the pin member
36
is similar to one of the hinge pins
21
, only shorter, and defines a hinge means. The pin member
36
has a central, longitudinal axis
39
which defines the axis about which the bracket plate
18
, the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
rotate when pivotally secured together by the pin member
36
. The bracket plate
18
and the clasp member
26
have tab portions which are formed into hinge loops
19
for fitting around of the cylindrically shaped periphery of the pin member
36
to pivotally secure the bracket plate
18
and the clasp member
26
to the pin member
36
. The pin members
21
and
36
have cylindrically shaped peripheries which, together with the hinge loops
19
, provide hinge means which are common to and rotatably secure together the bracket plate
18
, the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
for rotating about the common axis
39
.
The bracket plate
18
has a main body portion
37
, having a planar surface and two sides, or opposite ends, which are formed to extend perpendicular to the main, planar surface of the main body portion
37
. The bracket plate
18
has the tab portions which extend from the two opposite ends of the main body portion
37
, and which are formed to provide the hinge loops
19
. The hinge loops
19
are sized and shaped for receiving the cylindrical periphery of the pin member
36
to pivotally secure the bracket plate
18
to the pin member
36
, the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
. The hinge loops
19
on opposite ends of the bracket plate
18
fit between, or intermesh, with the hinge loops
19
of the end of one of the linkages
11
of the cable management arm
10
, on one end of the bracket plate
18
, and the hinge loops
19
of the clasp member
26
, on the other end of the bracket plate
18
. The hinge loops
19
of the bracket plate
18
are formed such that the main planar surface defined by the main body portion
37
will extend parallel to the longitudinal axis
39
of the pin member
36
, and will remain parallel to the longitudinal axis
39
, while the bracket plate
18
is rotated about the longitudinal axis
39
of the pin member
36
.
The clasp member
26
has a main body portion which defines a planar surface
33
. Two threaded holes
28
are provided in the planar surface
33
of the main body portion for receiving the threaded shank
30
of the thumb screw
22
. Two clinch nuts
40
define two spaced apart, threaded holes
28
in the planar surface
33
of the clasp member
26
. The two clinch nuts
40
are fixedly secured to the clasp member
26
in spaced apart arrangement, such that the two threaded holes
28
are aligned in parallel for receiving the shank of the thumb screw
22
.
The clasp member
26
has two tab portions which extend from one side of the planar surface
33
, and which are formed to provide the hinge loops
19
for extending around the cylindrical periphery of the pin member
36
. The hinge loops
19
pivotally secure the clasp member
26
to the pin member
36
, for rotating relative to the longitudinal axis
39
of the pin member
36
. The hinge loops
19
of the clasp member
26
are formed such that the longitudinal axis
39
of the pin member
36
is parallel to the plane of the planar surface
33
of the clasp member
36
, and the planar surface
33
will rotate about the longitudinal axis
39
while remaining parallel to the longitudinal axis
39
.
The clasp member
26
further has two locating tabs
32
which are spaced apart and which extend from opposite sides of the clasp member
26
, at right angles to a planar surface
33
of the main body of the clasp member
26
and perpendicular to the axis
39
of the pin member
36
. The two locating tabs
32
of the clasp member
26
are two planar locating ears which extend in parallel and which are spaced apart for fitting into respective ones of two spaced apart mounting apertures
16
of the server system rack frame
14
to locate the pivot mounting bracket
12
relative to the rack frame
14
. The spacing between the two parallel locating tabs
32
defines a line which is perpendicular to the two locating tabs
32
, and parallel to the longitudinal axis
39
of the pin member
36
, about which the planar surface
33
of the clasp member
26
rotates.
At least an intermediate one of the mounting apertures
16
of the rack frame
14
is disposed between the two spaced apart ones of the mounting apertures
16
which receive the two locating tabs
32
. The spacing between the clinch nuts
40
is narrower than the spacing between the two locating tabs
32
of the clasp member
26
, and the clinch nuts
40
are positioned relative to the two locating tabs
32
, such that one of the regularly spaced, intermediate mounting apertures
16
in the rack frame
14
will align with at least one of the clinch nuts
40
when either end of the clasp member
26
is located in an upwards position relative to the other end of the clasp member
26
. Whether the pivot mounting bracket
12
is mounted in a right-hand position, mounted to a right side of the server system rack
14
, or in a left-hand position, mounted to the left side of the server system rack
14
, one of the two clinch nuts
40
will be aligned with one of the regularly spaced mounting apertures
16
in the rack frame
14
when the two locating tabs
32
of the clasp member
26
are disposed in the two spaced apart ones of the mounting apertures
16
.
The pivot member
20
has a planar-shaped main body
31
, which defines two, parallel planar surfaces. The longitudinal ends of the main body
31
of the pivot member
20
includes two tabs, or lugs, which extend outward of opposite sides of a main body of the pivot member
20
to define mounting ears
34
. The mounting ears
34
are parallel, have respective apertures
35
and face one another for rotatably receiving the pin member
36
. The pin member
36
is preferably secured in the apertures
35
of the two mounting ears
34
by two of the E-clips fasteners
38
. The two clip-type fasteners
38
pivotally secure the pin member
36
within the respective apertures
35
of the mounting ears
34
of the pivot member
20
, with the hinge loops
19
of the clasp member
26
and the bracket plate
18
fitting around the pin member
36
and captured between the mounting ears
35
of the pivot member
20
.
A slot
24
having an elongated shape is formed in the planar surfaces of the planar shaped main body portion
37
of the pivot member
20
for receiving the thumb screw
22
. The thumb screw
22
is preferably captured within the slot
24
. The slot
24
has a longitudinal length along which the thumb screw
22
is slidably moveable from one end of the elongated slot
24
to the other. The longitudinal length of the elongated slot
24
defines a longitudinal axis which is preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis
39
of the pin member
36
, when the pivot member
20
is rotatably secured to the pin member
36
. The thumb screw
22
has a threaded shank
30
and a head
23
. The head
23
is knurled such that a user may grip the head
23
between a thumb and a finger to turn the thumb screw
22
. The thumb screw
22
secures the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
together against opposite sides of a portion of the rack frame
16
, with the portion of the rack frame
16
clamped between the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
.
The elongated slot
24
also preferably runs parallel to the longitudinal axis
27
of a post
25
of the frame
14
. (Shown in FIG.
4
). The slot
24
is located in the pivot member
20
such that the captive thumb screw
22
may be moved in the slot
24
for selectively aligning with either one of the threaded holes
28
of the clinch nuts
40
. Once the pivot mounting bracket
12
is located with respect to the rack frame
14
, a threaded end
30
of the captive thumb screw
22
is passed through the intermediate one of the mounting aperture
16
and into one of the clinch nut
40
. The thumb screw
22
is then threadingly engaged with the particular clinch nut
40
which is registered with the intermediate one of the mounting apertures
16
. The slot
24
in the pivot mounting bracket
12
allows the thumb screw
22
to move between two positions, a first position for registering with one of the threaded holes
28
in the two clinch nuts
40
, and a second position for registering with the other of the threaded holes
28
in the two clinch nuts
40
of the clasp member
26
, such that the pivot mounting bracket
12
may be used in either a right-hand or a left-hand position with respect to the server rack frame
14
.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of the pivot mounting bracket
12
and the frame
14
of the rack
2
, showing the pivot mounting bracket
12
engaged with a flange
42
of the frame and in an open position, prior to being secured to the flange
42
. Preferably, the rack frame
14
is of the type having mounting apertures
16
which are spaced apart in a regular pattern that runs the length of the rack frame
14
. The regular pattern of the apertures
16
in rack frame
14
preferably has different spacings between various ones of the apertures
16
, in a repeating pattern. The two locating tabs
32
of the clasp member
26
are shown extending through the apertures
16
in the frame
14
, with the planar surface
33
in the main body of the clasp member
26
being disposed flush against a planar surface of the flange
42
portion defined by the frame
14
. Preferably, the two locating tabs
32
are spaced apart for engaging in separate ones of the mounting holes
16
of the frame
14
, and fit flush against sides of the mounting holes
16
. The slot
24
in the main body
31
of the pivot member
20
will register with at least one of the frame apertures
16
, which is preferably disposed between the two of the apertures
16
which receive the two locating tabs
32
. The thumb screw
22
, which is captured in the elongated slot
24
, will pass from the elongated slot
24
, through the one of the apertures
16
which registers with the elongated slot
24
, for securing within one of the threaded holes
28
of the clinch nuts
40
which are fixedly secured to the clasp member
26
.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the mounting bracket
12
and the frame
14
, showing the pivot mounting bracket
12
in the latched position, fastened to the frame
14
. The pivot member
20
is rotated relative to the rack frame
14
and the bracket plate
18
to align the threaded shank
30
of the thumb screw
22
with one of the threaded holes
28
provided in the clasp member
26
. The thumb screw
22
is then rotated to threadingly engage the threaded shank
30
within one of the threaded holes
28
to secure the thumb screw
22
and the pivot member
20
to the clasp member
26
, clamping the flange
42
of the rack frame
14
between the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
. This latches the pivot member
20
in a fixed position, such that the planar surface
33
of the clasp member
26
is fitting flush against one side of the frame
14
, and the main body portion
31
of the pivot member
20
is disposed flush against a second side of the frame
14
. In the alternative, a washer, or shoulder, maybe provided on the thumb screw
22
for clamping the flange
42
of the rack frame
14
between the planar surface of the clasp member
26
and such washer, or shoulder, of the thumb screw
22
. The thumb screw
22
and the two locating tabs
32
will prevent movement of the pivot mounting bracket
22
in the direction which is perpendicular to the plane of the planar surface
33
of the clasp member
26
and the plane of contact between the pivot member
20
and flange
42
of the frame
14
.
FIG. 6
is a sectional view of the pivot mounting bracket
12
taken along section line
6
—
6
of FIG.
5
. The pivot mounting bracket
12
is shown disposed in the latched position. The planar surface
33
of the clasp member
26
fits flush against a second planar surface of the flange portion
42
of the rack frame
14
. The bracket plate
18
is pivotally mounted to the hinge pin
36
. The two tabs
32
(one shown) of the clasp member
26
are extending through the mounting apertures
16
in the flange
42
of the rack frame
14
to locate the pivot mounting bracket
12
with respect to the rack frame
14
. The thumb screw
22
is aligned with and screwed into one of the clinch nuts
40
of the clasp member
26
. The main body portion
31
of the pivot member
20
is disposed on an opposite side of the flange portion
42
from the planar surface
33
of the clasp member
26
.
FIG. 7
is a sectional view of the pivot mounting bracket
12
, taken along section line
7
—
7
of FIG.
5
. The pivot mounting bracket
12
is shown disposed in the latched position. The clinch nuts
40
are fixedly secured to the clasp member
26
. The threaded shank
30
of the thumb screw
22
is threadingly secured within the threaded hole
28
of the clinch nuts
40
. One of the hinge loops
19
of the clasp member
26
is shown extending around the pin member
36
to pivotally secure the clasp member
26
to the pin
36
. The bracket plate
18
is also pivotally secured to the pin member
36
by hinge loops
19
. The pivot member
20
is pivotally secured to the pin member
36
by the pin member
36
fitting within the apertures
35
of the mounting ears
34
(shown in FIG.
3
). The respective hinge loops
19
, the apertures
35
of the mounting ears
34
and the pin member
36
together define a hinge means, which are common to the bracket plate
18
, the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
for rotatably securing the bracket plate
18
, the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
to the pin member
36
.
FIG. 8
is a partial, perspective view of the cable management arm
10
and a forward mounting bracket
15
. The forward mounting bracket
15
has a thumbscrew
17
, similar to the thumbscrew
22
of the pivot mounting bracket
12
. The forward mounting bracket
15
is mounted to one of the linkages
11
of the cable management arm
10
. Preferably, the bracket
15
has a planar surface which is mounted flush with a rearward, planar surface of a cabinet of the equipment drawer
4
. The thumbscrew
17
will threadingly secure to the equipment drawer
4
.
In operation, one end of the cable management arm
10
is mounted to the rack frame
14
by means of the forward mounting bracket
15
and the pivot mounting bracket
12
. The forward end of the cable management arm
10
is secured to the equipment drawer
4
by the thumbscrew
17
extending through the forward mounting bracket
15
and into a threaded hole in the rearward end of the equipment drawer
4
. The pivot mounting bracket
12
is mounted first mounted to the cable management arm
10
. The rearward end of the cable management arm
14
is secured to the frame
14
of the server system rack frame
25
by means of the pivot mounting bracket
12
. The pivot mounting bracket
12
is secured to the rack frame
25
by first rotating the pivot member
20
away from the clasp member
26
of the bracket plate
18
. Then, the two locating tabs
32
are extended through two of the square mounting apertures
16
in the flange portion
42
of the frame
14
. The thumb screw
22
is then moved within the slot
24
until it is aligned with one of the mounting holes
16
of the frame
14
and one of the threaded holes
28
of the clinch nuts
40
of the clasp member
16
. The pivot member
20
is then rotated toward the clasp member
26
and the flange
42
, such that the thumb screw
22
is then passed through the respective mounting hole
16
and into the respective one of the threaded holes
28
of the clinch nuts
40
.
The thumb screw
22
is then threadingly secured into the threaded holes
28
in the clinch nut
40
. The head
23
of the thumb screw
22
is grasped by the user and rotated to threadingly secure the thumb screw
22
to the clinch nuts
40
, which secures the pivot member
20
against one side of the frame
14
, and the clasp member portion
26
against a second side of the frame
14
with the locating tabs
32
extending through respective ones of two of the square mountings hole
16
. A first side of the bracket plate
18
is rotatably secured to the pivot member
20
and the clasp member
26
. A second side of the bracket plate
18
has hinge loops
19
which are rotatably secured to the pin
21
and one of the linkages
11
.
The present invention provides advantages over the prior art. A pivot mounting bracket is provided having toolless fastener, such as a thumb screw, which threadingly secures a pivot member to a clasp member of the mounting bracket, with a flange portion of the rack frame disposed between the clasp member and the pivot member. The clasp member includes two locating tabs which extend through the rack frame to locate the mounting bracket relative to the rack frame. The clasp member, the pivot member and a bracket plate are pivotally mounted to a pin member. The shank of the thumbscrew and the two locating tabs of the clasp member fit within respective ones of the mounting apertures of the rack frame. The slot in the pivot mounting bracket for receiving the captive thumb screw has an elongated shape such that the thumb screw to be slidably moved within the elongated slot between positions for alignment with the threaded holes in the clasp member defined by the threaded holes
28
of the clinch nuts
40
. In particular, one of the threaded holes
28
will be aligned with an intermediate mounting hole of the rack frame for receiving the threaded shank
30
of the thumb screw
22
. The intermediate mounting hole of the rack frame is disposed between the two mounting holes which receive respective ones of the locating tabs. Preferably, the elongated slot in the pivot member and the threaded holes in the clasp member, or arranged such that the pivot mounting bracket may be used in either a right-hand or a left-hand position with respect to the rack frame of the server system rack.
Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A mounting bracket for mounting to a rack frame of a server system rack of a type having mounting apertures, said mounting bracket comprising:a pin member; a clasp member having a clasp member body and at least one clasp member socket for receiving said pin member to pivotally secure said clasp member to said pin member; said clasp member further having a clasp member aperture formed into said clasp member body, and a locating tab which extends at a right angle to a plane of said clasp member body for fitting within a first one of said mounting apertures of said rack frame; a pivot member having a pivot member body, two pin member mounting apertures, and a slot formed into said pivot member body which extends between opposite ends of said pivot member body, wherein said two pin member mounting apertures are disposed for rotatably receiving said pin member; and a mounting bracket fastener having a shank for extending through said pivot member slot, through one of said mounting apertures of said rack frame and into said clasp member aperture for securing said pivot member in fixed relation to said clasp member with a portion of said rack frame disposed therebetween, with said locating tab disposed in the first one of said mounting apertures of said rack frame.
- 2. The mounting bracket of claim 1, further comprising a bracket plate having a bracket plate body and at least one bracket plate socket for receiving said pin member to pivotally secure said bracket plate to said pin member.
- 3. The mounting bracket of claim 2, wherein said pin member comprises a single pin member of cylindrical shape, having opposite ends in which are defined two grooves, respectively, for receiving a fastening member in one of said two grooves and a second fastening member in the other of said two grooves.
- 4. The mounting bracket of claim 1, further comprising two grooves are formed into end sections of said pin member and two snap clips which are received in said two grooves of said pin member.
- 5. The mounting bracket of claim 1, further comprising a bracket plate which includes two spaced apart, ends, wherein one of said ends defines hinge loops which extend around said pin member and which extend between said mounting apertures of said pivot member.
- 6. The mounting bracket of claim 5, wherein said at least one clasp member socket intermeshes with said hinge loops of said bracket plate.
- 7. A mounting bracket for mounting to a rack frame of a server system rack, the rack frame being of a type having mounting apertures which are spaced apart in a regular pattern that runs a length of the rack frame, said mounting bracket comprising:a pin member; a clasp member having a clasp member body and clasp tabs which extend from one end of said clasp member body, said clasp tabs being formed into clasp member loops to define clasp member sockets for receiving said pin member to pivotally secure said clasp member to said pin member; said clasp member further having a clasp member aperture formed into said clasp member body and two locating tabs which extend at right angles to a plane of said clasp member body, wherein said two locating tabs are sized for fitting within respective ones of two of said mounting apertures of said rack frame; a pivot member having a pivot member body, two mounting ears which extend from opposite ends of said pivot member body, and a slot formed into said pivot member body which extends between said opposite ends of said pivot member body, wherein said two mounting ears are formed to extend transverse to said pivot member body, and said mounting ears having respective mounting ear apertures for pivotally receiving said pin member; and a mounting bracket fastener having a head which is larger than a width of said slot in said pivot member, and a shank which is sized for passing through said slot, one of said mounting apertures of said rack frame and through said clasp member aperture for securing said pivot member in fixed relation to said clasp member.
- 8. The mounting bracket of claim 7, wherein said pin member has an exterior periphery of cylindrical shape.
- 9. The mounting bracket of claim 8, wherein grooves are formed into end sections of said pin member and two end fasteners comprise snap clips which are received in said grooves of said pin member to secure said pin member within said respective mounting ear apertures of said pivot member.
- 10. The mounting bracket of claim 7, further comprising a bracket plate which includes two spaced apart, ends, wherein one of said ends defines hinge loops which extend around said pin member and which extend between said mounting ears of said pivot member.
- 11. The mounting bracket of claim 10, wherein said clasp member sockets are spaced apart and intermesh with various ones of said bracket plate.
- 12. A mounting bracket for mounting to a rack frame of a server system rack, the rack frame being of a type having mounting apertures which are spaced apart in a regular pattern that runs a length of the rack frame, said mounting bracket comprising:a pin member having a cylindrically-shaped periphery, and two spaced apart grooves formed circumferentially into end sections of said cylindrically-shaped periphery, wherein said grooves are spaced apart for disposing on opposite sides of said mounting bracket; a clasp member having a clasp member body and clasp tabs which extend from one end of said clasp member body, said clasp tabs being formed into clasp member loops to define clasp member sockets for receiving said pin member to pivotally secure said clasp member to said pin member; said clasp member further having two spaced apart, threaded apertures formed into said clasp member body and two locating tabs which extend at right angles to a plane of said clasp member body, wherein said two locating tabs are sized for fitting within respective ones of two of said mounting apertures of said rack frame; a pivot member having a pivot member body, two mounting ears which extend from opposite ends of said pivot member body, and a slot formed into said pivot member body which extends between said opposite ends of said pivot member body to register with said two, spaced apart, threaded apertures of said clasp member, and wherein said two mounting ears extend transverse to said pivot member body and are spaced apart to fit inward of and substantially adjacent to said two spaced apart grooves in said pin member, and said mounting ears having respective mounting ear apertures for receiving said pin member; clip fasteners for securing in said grooves of said pin member to pivotally secure said pin member in said mounting ear apertures; and a thumb screw having a head which is larger than a width of said slot in said pivot member body, and a shank which is sized for slidably extending within said slot, and passing from said slot through one of said mounting apertures of said rack frame and into a threaded engagement with one of said threaded apertures of said clasp member.
- 13. The mounting bracket of claim 12, wherein said pivot member body has a planar portion in which said slot extends, said planar portion of said pivot member body extends for aligning said slot with at least one of said mounting apertures in said rack frame, with said two locating tabs of said clasp member being disposed in the respective ones of the two of said mounting apertures in said rack frame, such that said shank of said thumb screw passes through the one of said mounting apertures and into said clasp aperture of said clasp member body.
- 14. The mounting bracket of claim 13, further comprising a bracket plate which includes two spaced apart, ends, wherein one of said ends defines hinge loops which extend around said pin member and which extend between said two mounting ears of said pivot member.
- 15. The mounting bracket of claim 14, wherein said clasp member sockets are spaced apart and intermesh with various ones of said hinge loops of said bracket plate.
US Referenced Citations (15)