Panel support and installation system
AssigneeHoffman Enclosures, Inc.
InventorsJose Antonio Rodriguez, David Ramos, Florin Patrunjel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel support system for mounting a panel to an enclosure can include support profiles mounted to a top and a bottom of the enclosure. The support profiles can define elongate channels that can be sized to receive a top or bottom portion of the panel. The bottom support profile can have apertures along a base wall of the profile. Elements for reducing friction, including, for example, rollers can extend through the apertures in an installation configuration, to facilitate insertion of a panel into the elongate channel. The friction-reducing elements can be moved to an installed configuration once the panel is in place, allowing the panel to rest on the base wall of the bottom support profile.
Claims20
A panel support system for mounting a panel to an enclosure, the panel support system comprising:
- an enclosure frame comprising a top frame member and a bottom frame member;
- and
- a support profile mounted to the bottom frame member to receive a panel in an insertion direction, the support profile including:
- a base wall that includes apertures along the insertion direction;
- cylinders secured to a channel structure in alignment with the apertures, with the cylinders movable relative to the base wall between an installation configuration and an installed configuration;
- in the installation configuration, the cylinders extending through the apertures to protrude a first height above the base wall, to rollingly support the panel for installation along the support profile;
- and
- in the installed configuration, the cylinders protruding above the base wall by less than the first height, to align the panel for support on the base wall.
A panel support system to support a panel of an enclosure during and after installation of the panel, the panel support system comprising:
- a panel support profile that includes:
- a base wall extending along an elongate direction of the panel support profile;
- a first mounting structure defining mounting slots at opposing lateral sides of the base wall;
- and
- a first friction-reducing element adjustably secured to the first mounting structure at the mounting slots to be movable between:
- an installation configuration, in which the first friction-reducing element protrudes above the base wall;
- and
- an installed configuration in which the first friction-reducing element does not protrude above the base wall.
A method of installing a panel into an enclosure frame that includes a top frame member and a bottom frame member, the method comprising:
- moving a panel along a support profile in an insertion direction, with the panel supported on friction-reducing elements of the support profile, the support profile being mounted to the bottom frame member and including a base wall that includes apertures along the insertion direction, and the panel being supported for movement in the insertion direction with the friction-reducing elements in an installation configuration, in which the friction-reducing elements extend a first height above the base wall;
- and
- after moving the panel in the insertion direction, moving the friction-reducing elements to a second height above the base wall that is less than the first height, so that the panel is supported on the base wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.