Rack-mounted bracket assembly

Abstract

A rack-mounted bracket assembly comprises a main member having a first end, a second end, and a shelf therebetween. A set of long tabs is disposed on the first end of the main member. A set of short tabs is disposed on the second end of the main member. A retention latch is connected to the main member and limits the movement of the bracket within a rack.

1 . A rack-mounted bracket assembly comprising: 
 a main member having a first end, a second end, and a shelf therebetween;    a set of long tabs disposed on the first end of said main member;    a set of short tabs disposed on the second end of said main member; and    a retention latch disposed on said main member, wherein said retention latch limits the movement of the bracket within a rack.    
   
   
       2 . The rack-mounted bracket assembly of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a threaded receptacle disposed on the second end of said main member; and    a retainer extending from the shelf of said main member.    
   
   
       3 . The rack-mounted bracket assembly of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first rail comprising a plurality of holes that engage said long tabs; and    a second rail comprising a plurality of holes that engage said short tabs.    
   
   
       4 . The rack-mounted bracket assembly of  claim 3  wherein said second rail further comprises a flange that interfaces with said retention latch so as to prevent disengagement of said short tabs from said second rail.  
   
   
       5 . The rack-mounted bracket assembly of  claim 4  wherein said retention latch comprises: 
 a shoulder that engages the flange of said second rail;    a spring member that urges said shoulder into engagement with the flange; and    a release tab that is movable to disengage said shoulder from the flange.    
   
   
       6 . The rack-mounted bracket assembly of  claim 5  wherein said retention latch is formed from a single piece of material.  
   
   
       7 . The rack-mounted bracket assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a stiffener member disposed on said main member.  
   
   
       8 . A rack assembly comprising: 
 a front rail having a plurality of holes therethrough;    a rear rail having a plurality of holes therethrough;    a flange disposed on said front rail    a bracket assembly disposed between said front rail and said rear rail, said bracket assembly comprising a lower shelf;    a plurality of rear tabs disposed on a rear end of said bracket assembly and engaged with the holes on said rear rail;    a plurality of front tabs disposed on a front end of said bracket assembly and engaged with the holes on said front rail; and    a retention latch disposed on said bracket assembly and engaged with said flange so as to restrict relative movement between said bracket assembly and said front rail.    
   
   
       9 . The rack assembly of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a rear retainer that extends upward from the lower shelf; and    a threaded receptacle disposed on the front end of said bracket assembly.    
   
   
       10 . The rack assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a computer system that comprises: 
 a chassis supported by the lower shelf of said bracket assembly and engaged with said rear retainer; and    a front bezel coupled to the rack assembly by a fastener that is engaged with said threaded receptacle.    
   
   
       11 . The rack assembly of  claim 8  wherein said retention latch comprises: 
 a shoulder that engages the flange of said front rail;    a spring member that urges said shoulder into engagement with the flange; and    a release tab that is movable to disengage said shoulder from the flange.    
   
   
       12 . The rack assembly of  claim 8  wherein said retention latch is formed from a single piece of material.  
   
   
       13 . The rack assembly of  claim 8  wherein said rear tabs are longer than said front tabs.  
   
   
       14 . The rack assembly of  claim 8  wherein said bracket assembly further comprises a stiffener member.  
   
   
       15 . The rack assembly of  claim 8  wherein said bracket assembly comprises a plurality of lower shelves interconnected by a backing plate.  
   
   
       16 . The rack assembly of  claim 8  wherein each of the plurality of lower shelves support an individual computer system.  
   
   
       17 . A rack assembly method comprising: 
 inserting a bracket assembly into a rack such that a set of long tabs engages slots disposed on a rear rail;    rotating the bracket assembly so as to align a set of short tabs with slots disposed on a front rail;    moving the bracket assembly forward such that the short tabs engage with the slots on the front rail; and    engaging a flange on the front rail with a retention latch so as to prevent disengagement of the short tabs from the slots on the front rail.    
   
   
       18 . The rack assembly method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 supporting a computer chassis on a shelf of the bracket assembly;    sliding the computer chassis relative to the bracket assembly until the chassis engages a rear retainer that extends upward from the shelf; and    securing the computer chassis to the rack by engaging a fastener disposed on the chassis with a threaded receptacle disposed on the rack assembly.    
   
   
       19 . The rack assembly method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 operating the retention latch so as to disengage the flange;    moving the bracket assembly rearward such that the short tabs disengage the slots on the front rail; and    moving the bracket assembly so as to disengage the long tabs from the slots on the rear rail.    
   
   
       20 . The rack assembly method of  claim 17  wherein the bracket assembly comprises a plurality of lower shelves operable to support a plurality of computer systems.  
   
   
       21 . A bracket assembly comprising: 
 means for supporting a computer system between a first rail and a second rail of a rack;    means for engaging holes in the first rail;    means for engaging holes in the second rail; and    means for limiting the movement of the bracket assembly within the rack.    
   
   
       22 . The bracket assembly of  claim 21  wherein said means for limiting the movement of the bracket prevents said means for engaging holes in the second rail from disengaging.  
   
   
       23 . The bracket assembly of  claim 21  further comprising a means for stiffening said means for supporting.