Apparatus and method for housing electronic equipment and increasing floor space utilization in a secure environment

A secure equipment rack for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component, said secure equipment rack comprising:

• A subcombination including:
• a back plate having a top, a bottom, and sides, said back plate capable of being mounted to a substantially vertical surface, said back plate capable of having brackets mounted thereto;
• two brackets each capable of being mounted to said back plate, each of said brackets having a surface oriented as a top surface when mounted to said back plate, the top surface having a horizontal dimension extending normal to said substantially vertical surface, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less, the combination of said two brackets when mounted to said back plate capable of having mounted thereto said component oriented with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension of said top surface;
• a front cover for mounting to said subcombination for covering at least the front of a fan assembly and said brackets by fasteners;
• a top cover for covering at least the top of said subcombination;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking said top cover to said front cover.

A secure equipment rack capable of being mounted in back-to-back relationship with another secure equipment rack, each of said racks for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component,

• wherein each of said secure equipment racks comprises a subcombination including
• (i) a back plate mountable on a substantially vertical surface, said back plate having a top, a bottom and sides, said back plate capable of having brackets mounted thereto, and (ii) two brackets each capable of being mounted to said back plate, each of said brackets having a surface oriented as a top surface when mounted to said back plate, the top surface having a horizontal dimension extending normal to said substantially vertical surface, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less,
• the combination of said two brackets, when said brackets are mounted to said back plate, capable of having mounted thereto said at least one component oriented with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension of said top surface;
• a front cover for mounting to said subcombination for covering at least the front of a fan assembly and said brackets by fasteners;
• a top cover for covering at least the top of said subcombination;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking said top cover to said front cover.

A secure equipment rack capable of being mounted in back-to-back relationship to each other, each of said racks for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component,

• wherein each of said secure equipment racks comprises a subcombination including
• (i) a back plate capable of being mounted to a substantially vertical surface, said back plate having a top, a bottom and sides, said back plate capable of having brackets mounted thereto, and
• (ii) two brackets each capable of being mounted to said back plate,
• each of said brackets, when mounted to said back plate, having a horizontal dimension extending substantially normal to said back plate, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less for supporting said at least one component with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension;
• a fan assembly for mounting to the bottom of said brackets;
• a front cover for mounting to said subcombination for covering at least the front of said fan assembly and said brackets by fasteners;
• a top cover for covering at least the top of said subcombination;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking said top cover to said front cover.

A secure equipment rack for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component, said equipment rack comprising:

• A subcombination including a back plate having a top, a bottom and sides, said back plate capable of being mounted to a substantially vertical surface;
• and
• two brackets each mounted to said back plate, each of said brackets having a horizontal dimension extending substantially normal to said back plate, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less, for supporting said at least one component with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension;
• a fan for mounting to the bottom of said brackets;
• a front cover for mounting to said subcombination for covering at least the front of said fan assembly and said brackets by fasteners;
• a top cover for covering at least the top of said subcombination;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking said top cover to said front cover.

Two secure equipment racks mounted to the same substantially vertical surface in back-to-back relationship to each other, each of said racks for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component, each of said equipment racks comprising

• A subcombination including
• (i) a back plate having a top, a bottom and sides, said back plate mounted to said substantially vertical surface, and
• (ii) two brackets each mounted to said back plate, each of said brackets having a horizontal dimension extending substantially normal to said back plate, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less for supporting said at least one component with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension;
• a fan assembly for mounting to the bottom of said brackets;
• a front cover for mounting to said subcombination for covering at least the front of said fan assembly and said brackets by fasteners;
• a top cover for covering at least the top of said subcombination;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking said top cover to said front cover.

A secure equipment rack capable of being mounted in back-to-back relationship to each other, each of said racks for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component,

• wherein each of said secure equipment racks comprises a subcombination including
• (i) a back plate capable of being mounted to a substantially vertical surface, said back plate having a top, a bottom and sides, said back plate capable of having brackets mounted thereto, and (ii) two brackets each capable of being mounted to said back plate,
• each of said brackets, when mounted to said back plate, having a horizontal dimension extending substantially normal to said back plate, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less for supporting said at least one component with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension;
• a fan assembly for mounting to the bottom of said brackets;
• a front panel and a top cover, said front panel and top cover fixedly mounted in swinging relationship, for fixedly covering said subcombination, and for opening to allow access to said at least one component.

A method of providing a secure equipment rack for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component, said method comprising:

• providing a back plate having a top, a bottom and sides, said back plate capable of being mounted to a substantially vertical surface;
• and
• providing two brackets capable of being mounted to said back plate, each of said brackets having a horizontal dimension extending substantially normal to said back plate, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less, for supporting said at least one component vertically with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension;
• wherein said brackets having
• a fan mounted to the bottom of said brackets;
• a front cover mounted to said back plate and brackets by fasteners, for covering at least the front of said fan assembly and said brackets;
• a top cover for covering at least the top of said back plate and said brackets;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking said top cover to said front cover.

A secure equipment rack for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component, said equipment rack comprising:

• A subcombination including a back plate having a top, a bottom and sides, said back plate capable of being mounted to a substantially vertical surface;
• and
• two brackets each mounted to said back plate, each of said brackets having a horizontal dimension extending substantially normal to said back plate, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less, for supporting said at least one component vertically with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension;
• a fan for mounting to the bottom of said brackets;
• a front cover for mounting to said subcombination for covering at least the front of said fan assembly and said brackets by fasteners;
• a top cover for covering at least the top of said subcombination;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking said top cover to said front cover.

A secure equipment rack for mounting at least one component having mounting ears substantially coplanar with a component front surface, the front surface having a height dimension, and a width dimension, the component having a depth dimension extending normal to the front surface of the component, said equipment rack comprising:

• a back plate having a top, a bottom, and sides, said back plate capable of being mounted to a wall, said back plate capable of having brackets mounted at substantially right angles to said back plate and said wall;
• two brackets each having a top and a bottom, each of said brackets capable of being mounted to said back plate at substantially right angles to said back plate and to said wall, each of said brackets, when mounted to said back plate, having a horizontal dimension extending substantially normal to said back plate, said horizontal dimension being 10U or less, for supporting said at least one component with said height dimension substantially parallel to said horizontal dimension;
• a fan assembly for mounting to the bottom of said brackets;
• a front cover for mounting to said rack for covering at least the front of said fan assembly and said brackets by fasteners;
• a top cover for covering at least the top of said rack;
• and
• a locking mechanism for locking said top cover to said front cover.