Mounting bracket for rack system and method of use

Abstract

A rack system is disclosed that includes a mounting bracket that is operable to couple a rail to a post having either of two possible configurations. The mounting bracket includes a pair of hooks. The hooks are sized to couple the mounting bracket to a post having square apertures. The hooks of the mounting bracket are coupled to a spring. When the mounting bracket is coupled to a post having round holes, the placement of the bracket against the posts causes the hooks to recede, thereby allowing the mounting holes of the mounting bracket to be directly adjacent to the holes of the post.

1 . A mounting bracket for supporting a computer system component comprising: 
 an arm member having a first end and a second end;    a first rail interface disposed at the first end of the arm member wherein the first rail interface has an interface hook capable of toollessly and releasably securing the first end of the arm member to an interface portion of a post having apertures sized to receive the interface hook; and    a second rail interface disposed at the first end of the arm member wherein the second rail interface has an interface hole for receiving a mechanical fastener for securing the first end of the arm member to an interface portion of a post having apertures sized to receive the mechanical fastener.    
   
   
       2 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1  wherein the interface hook is slidable along an elongated slot of the arm member to form a slidable interface hook.  
   
   
       3 . The mounting bracket of  claim 2  wherein the slidable interface hook is biased towards the first end of the arm member.  
   
   
       4 . The mounting bracket of  claim 3  wherein the interface hook is biased towards the first end of the arm member by a spring attached between the slidable interface hook and the arm member.  
   
   
       5 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1  wherein the first rail interface includes multiple interface hooks.  
   
   
       6 . The mounting bracket of  claim 1  wherein the second rail interface includes multiple interface holes.  
   
   
       7 . The mounting bracket of  claim 4  wherein the second rail interface includes multiple interface holes and wherein the second rail interface includes multiple interface holes.  
   
   
       8 . A rack system comprising: 
 a rack having a plurality of rails, each rail having an interface portion; and    a pair of mounting brackets for supporting a computer system component, each mounting bracket having: 
 an arm member having a first end and a second end,  
 a first rail interface disposed at the first end of the arm member wherein the first rail interface has an interface hook capable of toollessly and releasably securing the first end of the arm member to the interface portion of a post having apertures sized to receive the interface hook, and  
 a second rail interface disposed at the first end of the arm member wherein the second rail interface has an interface hole for receiving a mechanical fastener for securing the first end of the arm member to the interface portion of the post having apertures sized to receive the mechanical fastener.  
   
   
   
       9 . The rack system of  claim 8  wherein the interface hook is slidable along an elongated slot of the arm member to form a slidable interface hook.  
   
   
       10 . The mounting bracket of  claim 9  wherein the slidable interface hook is biased towards the first end of the arm member.  
   
   
       11 . The mounting bracket of  claim 10  wherein the interface hook is biased towards the first end of the arm member by a spring attached between the slidable interface hook and the arm member.  
   
   
       12 . A method for supporting a computer system component comprising: 
 providing a rack having a plurality of rails, each rail having an interface portion;    providing a plurality of mounting brackets for supporting a computer system component, each mounting bracket having an arm member having a first end and a second end, a first rail interface disposed at the first end of the arm member wherein the first rail interface has an interface hook capable of toollessly and releasably securing the first end of the arm member to the interface portion of a post having apertures sized to receive the interface hook, and a second rail interface disposed at the first end of the arm member wherein the second rail interface has an interface hole for receiving a mechanical fastener for securing the first end of the arm member to the interface portion of the post having apertures sized to receive the mechanical fastener; and    coupling the pair of mounting brackets to the interface portion of the posts.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the coupling of the pair of mounting brackets to the interface portion of the posts occurs by engaging and mating of the interface hooks with the interface portion of the posts.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the interface hook is slidable along an elongated slot of the arm member to form a slidable interface hook.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the slidable interface hook is biased towards the first end of the arm member.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the coupling of the pair of mounting brackets to the interface portion of the posts occurs by attaching the second rail interface to the interface portion of the post with a mechanical fastener.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the interface hook is biased towards the first end of the arm member by a spring attached between the slidable interface hook and the arm member.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first rail interface includes multiple interface hooks.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the second rail interface includes multiple interface holes.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the second rail interface includes multiple interface holes and wherein the second rail interface includes multiple interface holes.