Rack system with minimum dead space

Abstract

A rack system for minimizing dead space includes a frame having a top, a device to be housed, and at least two ears adapted to horizontally secure the device from the top. The ears may be fastened directly to the top of the frame or fastened to two parallel horizontal rails which are braced to the top of the frame. The device is attached to each ear such that the device is parallel to the horizontal rails. The device's position relative to the top of the frame may be adjusted due to vertical slots in a side flange of each of the ears. An alternative embodiment includes a rack system having a frame with a top, a device to be housed, and a tray upon which the device may horizontally sit. The tray is fastened directly to the top of the frame or fastened to two parallel horizontal rails which are braced to the top of the frame. An additional clamp may be provided to secure the device between the tray and the clamp. Methods and kits for minimizing dead space in rack systems are also provided.

1 . A rack system comprising: 
 a frame having a top and a front; and    at least two ears for mounting a device to the frame, said device being mountable to the top of the frame via the at least two ears wherein each of the at least two ears comprises a side flange which is adapted to be coupled to a side of the device and a top flange which is adapted to be coupled to the top of the frame such that the device may be horizontally secured in an upper portion of the frame.    
     
     
         2 . The rack system of  claim 1  wherein each side flange of the ears includes slotted openings such that the device may be positioned an adjustable distance from the top of the frame.  
     
     
         3 . The rack system of  claim 1  comprising said device.  
     
     
         4 . The rack system of  claim 1  wherein said frame further comprises a pair of vertical rack rails at the front of the frame and wherein the rack system comprises a second device front-mounted to the vertical rack rails.  
     
     
         5 . A rack system comprising: 
 a frame having a top and a front; and    at least two ears for mounting a device to the frame, said frame further comprising at least two horizontal rails at the top of the frame and said horizontal rails being parallel and a sufficient distance apart such that the device may be positioned therebetween, said device being adapted to be mounted to the horizontal rails via the at least two ears wherein each of the at least two ears comprises a side flange which is adapted to be coupled to a side of the device and a top flange which is coupled to one of the at least two horizontal rails such that the device may be secured in an upper portion of the frame and such that the device may be parallel to the horizontal rails.    
     
     
         6 . The rack system of  claim 5  comprising said device.  
     
     
         7 . The rack system of  claim 5  wherein each side flange of the ears includes slotted openings such that the device may be positioned an adjustable distance from the top of the frame.  
     
     
         8 . The rack system of  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of devices horizontally secured to the top of the frame via a plurality of ears.  
     
     
         9 . The rack system of  claim 5  wherein said frame further comprises a pair of vertical rack rails at the front of the frame and wherein the rack system further comprises a second device front-mounted to the vertical rack rails.  
     
     
         10 . A rack system comprising: 
 a frame having a top and a front; and    a tray for a device to sit, said frame further comprising at least two horizontal rails at the top of the frame and said horizontal rails being a sufficient distance apart such that the device may be positioned therebetween, said tray comprising at least two top flanges for mounting the tray to the at least two horizontal rails and a base region large enough to provide a surface upon which the device may sit such that the device may sit in an upper portion of the frame.    
     
     
         11 . The rack system of  claim 10  comprising said device.  
     
     
         12 . The rack system of  claim 11  wherein said frame further comprises a pair of vertical rack rails at the front of the frame and wherein the rack system further comprises a second device front-mounted to the vertical rack rails.  
     
     
         13 . A rack system comprising: 
 a frame having a top and a front;    a device;    a tray for the device to horizontally sit; and    at least one clamp to secure the device between the tray and the clamp, said frame further comprising at least two horizontal rails at the top of the frame, said horizontal rails being a sufficient distance apart such that the device may be positioned therebetween and said tray comprising at least two top flanges for mounting the tray to the at least two horizontal rails and a base region large enough to provide a surface upon which the device may sit, said rack system further comprising at least one clamp adapted to secure the device against the tray wherein said at least one clamp comprising a body and at least one side region which is adjustably fastened to a side flange of an ear, said ear comprising a top flange which is fastened to one of the horizontal rails and said side flange of the ear also comprising a slotted opening such that the clamp may be urged upwards or downwards to secure the device between the tray and the clamp.    
     
     
         14 . A method for securing a device in an upper portion of a rack system comprising: 
 attaching at least two ears to the top of the rack system and    fastening a device to the two ears such that the device horizontally hangs in an upper portion of the rack system and wherein each of the at least two ears comprises a side flange which is coupled to a side of the device and a top flange which is coupled to the top of the rack system.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising bracing at least two horizontal rails to the top of the rack system wherein the horizontal rails are a sufficient distance apart such that the device may be positioned therebetween and wherein the device is mounted to the horizontal rails via the at least two ears wherein each top flange is coupled to each horizontal rail such that the device is horizontally secured in an upper portion of the frame  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising bracing a second device on top of the first device in the upper portion of the rack system using a clamp.  
     
     
         17 . A method for horizontally securing a device in an upper portion of a rack system comprising: 
 attaching a tray to the top of the rack system; and    sitting a device on a base region of the tray such that the device hangs in an upper portion of the rack system.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising clamping the device to the tray using a clamp which is adjustable in position.  
     
     
         19 . A method for increasing storage in a rack by at least one of modifying and retrofitting an existing rack system comprising: 
 horizontally securing at least one device to the top of the rack system via at least one ear.    
     
     
         20 . A kit comprising: 
 a plurality of ears, each of said ears comprises a side flange which is adapted to be coupled to a side of a device and a top flange which is adapted to be coupled to the top of a rack frame such that the device may be horizontally secured in an upper portion of the frame.    
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20  further comprising at least one of tray and a clamp.  
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 20  further comprising a set of written instructions on minimizing dead space in a rack system.  
     
     
         23 . The rack system of  claim 1  wherein the rack system houses at least one least one computer server.  
     
     
         24 . The rack system of  claim 1  wherein the frame is a cabinet-shaped structure.  
     
     
         25 . The rack system of  claim 1  wherein the frame is an elongated rectangular-shaped structure comprising a plurality of vertical spaces.  
     
     
         26 . The rack system of  claim 1  wherein the frame comprises at least one cover.  
     
     
         27 . The rack system of  claim 5  wherein the rack system houses at least one least one computer server.  
     
     
         28 . The rack system of  claim 5  wherein the frame is a cabinet-shaped structure.  
     
     
         29 . The rack system of  claim 5  wherein the frame is an elongated rectangular-shaped structure comprising a plurality of vertical spaces.  
     
     
         30 . The rack system of  claim 5  wherein the frame comprises at least one cover.  
     
     
         31 . The rack system of  claim 10  wherein the rack system houses at least one least one computer server.  
     
     
         32 . The rack system of  claim 10  wherein the frame is a cabinet-shaped structure.  
     
     
         33 . The rack system of  claim 10  wherein the frame is an elongated rectangular-shaped structure comprising a plurality of vertical spaces.  
     
     
         34 . The rack system of  claim 10  wherein the frame comprises at least one cover.