Self-Locating Rear Mount System and Method for Rack Mountable Equipment

Abstract

In accordance with the present disclosure, a rack equipment mount with a self-locating/self-adjusting rear fastener mechanism is disclosed. The equipment mount can have a first rail and a second rail securable horizontally in a rack system, wherein self-locating fasteners or receivers can be slidably connected to the rails. Rack mountable equipment to be inserted into the rack can have a mating fastener attached to the rear of its chassis and the self locating fasteners can engage with the mating fasteners as the chassis is slid into the rack. The self-locating fastener can be spring loaded in a forward position and slide along the rail to self-locate at the appropriate depth when a chassis is inserted into the rack. The self-locating fasteners allow equipment chassis of varying depths to be installed into a rack and easily secured at the rear of the rack. Such a self-locating rear fastener system can comply with NEBS requirements when the screw is utilized to secure the rail to the self-locating fastener receiver and the chassis.

1  An equipment mount comprising: 
 a rail securable in a rack perpendicular to vertical members in the rack, the rail having a first end and a second end;    a track disposed between the first end of the rail and the second end of the rail;    a self-adjusting fastener slidable on the track and adapted to receive a mating fastener coupled to an equipment chassis during insertion of the equipment chassis into the equipment rack; and    a spring coupled to the self-adjusting fastener and to the rail such that the self-adjusting fastener is biased towards the first end of the rail and, as the chassis is inserted into rack, the self-adjusting fastener slides towards the second end of the rail.    
   
   
       2 . The equipment mount of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a second rail securable in a rack perpendicular to the vertical members in the rack, the rail having a first end and a second end;    a second track disposed between the first end of the rail and the second end of the rail; and    a second self-adjusting fastener slidable on the second track and adapted to receive a second mating fastener coupled to the equipment chassis during insertion of the equipment chassis into the equipment rack.    
   
   
       3 . The equipment mount of  claim 1  further comprising a sliding surface coupled to the rail.  
   
   
       4 . The equipment mount of  claim 1  further comprising a side plate coupled to the rail.  
   
   
       5 . The equipment mount of  claim 4  further comprising a slot in the side plate.  
   
   
       6 . The equipment mount of  claim 5  further comprising a hole in the self-adjusting fastener such that as the hole in the self-adjusting slides towards the rear of the rail the hole slides along the slot.  
   
   
       7 . The equipment mount of  claim 1  further comprising a nut coupled to the self-adjusting fastener and adapted to secure a threaded fastener.  
   
   
       8 . The equipment mount of  claim 7  wherein the chassis has a hole and wherein the threaded fastener in the hole and the nut secures the chassis to the rail.  
   
   
       9 . The equipment mount of  claim 1  wherein the mating fastener comprises a protrusion that engages a recess in the self-adjusting fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The equipment mount of  claim 1  wherein the self-adjusting fastener comprises a protrusion that fits into a recess of the mating fastener.  
   
   
       11 . The equipment mount of  claim 1  wherein the mating fastener comprises one of a blade, a pin, a tongue, and a tab.  
   
   
       12 . The equipment mount of  claim 1  wherein the self-adjusting fastener comprises one of a groove, a slot, and a hole.  
   
   
       13 . An equipment mounting system comprising: 
 a first rail mounted horizontally between a first and second vertical member in an equipment rack, the first rail having a first track;    a second rail mounted horizontally between a third and fourth vertical member in the equipment rack, the second rail having a second track; and    a first fastener receiver slidably coupled to the first track and adapted to engage a rear of a mountable chassis when the mountable chassis is inserted into the rack and to slide along the first track as the chassis is moved into a mounting position.    a second fastener receiver slidably coupled to the second track and adapted to engage the rear of a mountable chassis when the mountable chassis is inserted into the rack and to slide along the second track as the chassis is moved into the mounting position.    
   
   
       14 . The equipment mounting system of  claim 13  further comprising a spring coupled between the first rail and the first fastener receiver to bias the fastener receiver in a first position.  
   
   
       15 . The equipment mounting system of  claim 13  further comprising a sliding surface coupled to the first rail and a side plate coupled to the first rail to align the first fastener receiver with a fastener on the chassis when the chassis is slid into the rack.  
   
   
       16 . The equipment mounting system of  claim 13  further comprising a second sliding surface and a second side plate coupled to the second rail to align the second fastener receiver with a mating fastener on the chassis when the chassis is slid into the rack.  
   
   
       17 . A method of configuring equipment in a rack comprising: 
 aligning an equipment chassis within a rack utilizing rails in the rack, the equipment chassis having fasteners and the rails having slidable fastener receivers;    engaging the fastener receivers with the fasteners;    sliding a fastener receiver towards a rear of the rack to as the fastener is engaged with the fastener receiver; and    securing the equipment chassis to the rack, wherein securing the rear of the equipment chassis to the rail with the fastener receivers secures the equipment chassis to the rack.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising fastening a front panel of the equipment chassis to the rack.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising securing a threaded fastener from the fastener receiver to the equipment chassis.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein sliding further comprises sliding the equipment chassis on a sliding surface.