Seismically resistant network equipment rack

Abstract

A network rack comprising a base, a pair of upstanding vertical posts extending from the base, and a top channel horizontally extending between and connecting the vertical posts, the base including a front upstanding flange, a rear upstanding flange, and at least one intermediate upstanding flange, the flanges being generally parallel to one another and to the top channel and extending substantially continuously from one of the vertical posts to the other of the vertical posts.

1 . A network rack comprising: 
 a base;    a pair of upstanding vertical posts extending from said base; and    a top channel horizontally extending between and connecting said vertical posts;    said base including a front upstanding flange, a rear upstanding flange, and at least one intermediate upstanding flange, said flanges being generally parallel to one another and to said top channel and extending substantially continuously from one of said vertical posts to the other of said vertical posts.    
     
     
         2 . A rack in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each of said upstanding flanges includes a horizontal flange extending from its upper edge.  
     
     
         3 . A rack in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said base includes welded-together front and bottom base portions, said front and bottom base portions each including a pair of upstanding flanges generally parallel to one another and said top channel.  
     
     
         4 . A rack in accordance with  claim 3  wherein each of said upstanding flanges includes a horizontal flange extending from its upper edge.  
     
     
         5 . A rack in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said front and bottom base portions are welded together such that one upstanding flange from said front base portion generally abuts one upstanding flange from said bottom base portion.  
     
     
         6 . A rack in accordance with  claim 5  wherein each of said upstanding flanges includes a horizontal flange extending from its upper edge.  
     
     
         7 . A rack in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said horizontal flange extending from said upper edge of said intermediate upstanding flange extends in both perpendicular directions from said upper edge.  
     
     
         8 . A rack in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each of said upstanding flanges includes at least one aperture to permit the passage of cables therethrough.  
     
     
         9 . A rack in accordance with  claim 1  further including a base angle gusset mounted on at least one of said upstanding flanges.  
     
     
         10 . A network rack comprising: 
 a base;    a pair of upstanding vertical posts extending from said base; and    a top channel horizontally extending between and connecting said vertical posts;    at least one of said vertical posts including an outer wall portion, a front wall portion extending generally perpendicularly inwardly from a front edge of said outer wall portion, a rear wall portion extending generally perpendicularly inwardly from a rear edge of said outer wall portion, a front transverse flange extending generally perpendicularly inwardly from an inward edge of said front wall portion, and a rear transverse flange extending generally perpendicularly inwardly from an inward edge of said rear wall portion, said outer wall portion being generally parallel to said transverse flanges and disposed more remotely from a vertical centerline of said rack than either of said transverse flanges.    
     
     
         11 . A rack in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said rear wall portion is significantly shorter than said front wall portion.  
     
     
         12 . A rack in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said rear wall portion is no more than approximately half as long as said front wall portion.  
     
     
         13 . A rack in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said front wall portion is at least 2 inches across.  
     
     
         14 . A rack in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said front wall portion is at least 4 inches across.  
     
     
         15 . A rack in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said outer wall portion is at least 4 inches across.  
     
     
         16 . A rack in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said outer wall portion is at least 6 inches across.  
     
     
         17 . A network rack comprising: 
 a base;    a pair of upstanding vertical posts extending from said base; and    a top channel horizontally extending between and connecting said vertical posts;    said top channel including a cut-out portion generally aligned with each of said vertical posts to facilitate cable access into said vertical posts.    
     
     
         18 . A rack in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said base includes a cut-out portion generally aligned with each of said vertical posts to facilitate cable access into said vertical posts.