Universal rack-mountable shelf

Abstract

A support and method for supporting equipment within a rack system regardless of its design is disclosed. The base of the support includes a surface capable of supporting the equipment reducing unintended movement of the equipment. Brackets capable of being securely attached to the rack system, regardless of whether it is two-post or four-post in design, are associated with the base of the support. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of selecting a design of rack system, attaching the support of the present system, and placement of the equipment to be supported.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A support for supporting a load in a rack system of either a two-post or four-post design, said support comprising: 
 a base;    said base having an upper surface capable of supporting the load and having at least two longitudinal flanges extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal dimension of the base including a first longitudinal flange adjacent to a first lateral edge of the base and a second longitudinal flange adjacent to a second lateral edge of the base; and    at least one means, for each longitudinal flange, for securely attaching the base to the rack system, the means for securely attaching adapted to enable attaching the base to rack systems having at least two different designs, wherein each different design is associated with at least one different location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for attaching the base using the longitudinal flange.    
   
   
       22 . The support of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the brackets is adapted to securely attach the base to at least one of the rack systems in an inverted position, wherein the base further comprises a lower surface capable of supporting equipment when the base is inverted, and wherein attaching the base in the inverted position accommodates equipment having at least one dimension that cannot be accommodated when the base is in an upright position.  
   
   
       23 . The support of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the brackets is adapted to attach to a first bracket at one or more fixed locations along the longitudinal dimension of the base.  
   
   
       24 . The support of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one different location of each different design relates to at least two different designs selected from the group consisting of: 
 a two-post design including a first location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for a first attachment of the base to the rack system;    a two-post design including a second location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for the first attachment, wherein the second location differs from the first location;    a two-post design including a third location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for a second attachment of the base to the rack system, wherein the second attachment differs from the first attachment;    a two-post design including a fourth location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for the second attachment, wherein the fourth location differs from the third location;    a four-post design having a first horizontal dimension along the longitudinal dimension of the base between attachments of the base to the rack system; and    a four-post design having a second horizontal dimension along the longitudinal dimension of the base between attachments of the base to the rack system, wherein the second horizontal dimension differs from the first horizontal dimension.    
   
   
       25 . The support of  claim 21 , wherein at least two of the two longitudinal flanges are disposed on different lateral sides of the upper surface of the base.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus configured to support equipment comprising: 
 a base comprising: 
 an upper surface capable of supporting equipment; and  
 at least two longitudinal flanges extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal dimension of the base; and  
   one or more brackets for each longitudinal flange configured to enable the base to be coupled to rack systems having at least two different designs such that at least one post of each different design can couple to the base using the one or more brackets at one or more different locations along the longitudinal flange.    
   
   
       27 . The support of  claim 26 , wherein the upper surface of the base is adapted to support computers, electrical components, servers, hubs, switches, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The support of  claim 26 , wherein the upper surface includes a material, one or more openings, a roughened layer, and or combinations thereof for increasing horizontal friction produced between the upper surface and the equipment thereon.  
   
   
       29 . The support of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the brackets is adapted to attach to at least one fixed location on at least one of the longitudinal flanges.  
   
   
       30 . The support of  claim 26 , wherein the bracket comprises: 
 a first flange adapted to attach to at least one of the longitudinal flanges; and    a second flange adapted to attach to at least one post of at least one of the rack systems.    
   
   
       31 . The support of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the brackets is adapted to slidably engage at least one of the longitudinal flanges.  
   
   
       32 . The support of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of the brackets comprises: 
 a flange adapted to attach to at least one post of at least one of the rack systems; and    a portion adapted to slidably engage a longitudinal flange.    
   
   
       33 . The support of  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the portion of the bracket comprises an adjustment slot adapted to receive a fastener for mating with at least one hole in at least one of the longitudinal flanges; and    the flange of the bracket comprises at least one hole adapted to mate with at least one hole in at least one of the posts.    
   
   
       34 . A shelf of a rack system comprising: 
 a base comprising: 
 an upper surface capable of supporting equipment; and  
 at least two longitudinal flanges extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal dimension of the base; wherein one or more of the longitudinal flanges are configured to be capable of coupling to two or more rack systems designs including at least a two-post design and a four-post design, and wherein at least one of the longitudinal flanges is further configured to enable at least one post of at least one of the rack system designs to couple to the longitudinal flange at a different location along the longitudinal flange than at least one post of a different rack system design.  
   
   
   
       35 . The shelf of  claim 34 , wherein the upper surface of the base is adapted to support computers, electrical components, servers, hubs, switches, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       36 . The shelf of  claim 34 , wherein the upper surface includes a material, one or more openings, a roughened layer, and or combinations thereof for increasing horizontal friction produced between the upper surface and the equipment thereon.  
   
   
       37 . The shelf of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the longitudinal flanges comprises at least one hole adapted to receive a fastener for mating with at least one hole in a bracket configured to enable the base to be coupled to two or more rack systems comprising at least two different designs.  
   
   
       38 . The shelf of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the longitudinal flanges comprises: 
 at least one hole at each of a plurality of locations comprising fixed locations to enable attachment with one or more brackets configured to enable the base to be coupled to two or more rack systems; and    at least one hole along the longitudinal dimension of the base comprising an adjustment slot to enable slidable engagement with one or more of the brackets.    
   
   
       39 . The support of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one different location of each different design relates to at least two different designs selected from the group consisting of: 
 a two-post design including a first location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for a first attachment of the base to the rack system;    a two-post design including a second location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for the first attachment, wherein the second location differs from the first location;    a two-post design including a third location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for a second attachment of the base to the rack system, wherein the second attachment differs from the first attachment;    a two-post design including a fourth location along the longitudinal dimension of the base for the second attachment, wherein the fourth location differs from the third location;    a four-post design having a first horizontal dimension along the longitudinal dimension of the base between attachments of the base to the rack system; and    a four-post design having a second horizontal dimension along the longitudinal dimension of the base between attachments of the base to the rack system, wherein the second horizontal dimension differs from the first horizontal dimension.    
   
   
       40 . The support of  claim 34 , wherein at least two of the two longitudinal flanges are disposed on different lateral sides of the upper surface of the base.