Modular stackable equipment rack

Abstract

A stackable equipment rack system, including separate modular racks, that enables equipment to be mounted in the rack system continuously along the entire height of the rack system, including at the junction between the stacked racks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular equipment rack comprising:
 a first rack and a second rack, each of the first rack and the second rack including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top, the rack having an open front side, the first rack and the second rack stacked with each front column of the first rack registered with a corresponding front column of the second rack so as to define an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the modular equipment rack to a bottom end of the modular equipment rack.   
     
     
         2 . The modular equipment rack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front columns defines a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns. 
     
     
         3 . The modular equipment rack of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially even spacing of the threaded apertures in the each of the front columns extends across an interface between the first rack and the second rack. 
     
     
         4 . An equipment rack comprising:
 a first rack including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top, the rack having an open front side defining an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the rack to a bottom end of the rack.   
     
     
         5 . The equipment rack of  claim 4 , wherein each of the front columns defines a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns. 
     
     
         6 . A modular equipment rack system comprising:
 a plurality of separate modular racks, each of the modular racks including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top, each modular rack having an open front side, the plurality of modular racks stacked with each front column registered with a front column of a vertically adjacent rack so as to define an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the stacked modular racks to a bottom end of the stacked modular racks.   
     
     
         7 . The modular equipment rack system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the front columns defines a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns. 
     
     
         8 . The modular equipment rack system of  claim 7 , wherein the substantially even spacing of the threaded apertures in the each of the front columns extends across an interface between the vertically adjacent racks.