Modular housing apparatus

A system for joining electronic equipment housings together in a rack apparatus, the system comprising:

• a first substantially planar panel (first panel) comprising
• a first edge,
• a second opposing edge (second edge),
• a first U-shaped channel on the first edge,
• a second U-shaped channel on the second edge, wherein each of the first and second U-shaped channels comprise inner surfaces that face each other and are substantially parallel to each other;
• and
• a second substantially planar panel (second panel) comprising
• a first U-shaped lip channel adapted to slidingly engage and mate with the first U-shaped channel on the first edge of the first panel, and
• a second U-shaped lip channel adapted to slidingly engage and mate with the second U-shaped channel on the second edge of the first panel, and wherein
• the first panel is further adapted to be attached to a respective one of the housings, and further wherein
• the second panel is further adapted to be attached to a respective one of the housings, and wherein
• each of the first and second U-shaped lip channels comprise:
• a lip portion adapted to slidingly engage and fit into respective first and second U-shaped channels on the first and second edges, and wherein each of the first and second U-shaped channels comprise:
• an outer wall portion that has a first height extending from an uppermost portion of a respective edge of the U-shaped channel to a bottom of the U-shaped channel;
• and
• an inner wall portion that has a second height extending from an uppermost portion of the inner wall to the bottom of the U-shaped channel, and wherein
• a depth of the U-shaped channel is substantially similar to the second height wherein, the second height is less than the first height, and wherein
• a width and height of the lip portion is substantially similar to a width and height of the U-shaped channel, such that the lip portion is adapted to fit in a slidingly engaging manner with the U-shaped channel.