Rack system and method having tool-less releasable arm assembly
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsHenry Castillo, Randolph D. Gray, Robert J. Neville, Jr., Tiffany J. Williams, Jerry D. Gandre
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure describes a system and method for installing support structures within rack systems for supporting components. In one aspect, a rack system is disclosed that includes a rack with a plurality of rails that each have a standard interface portion. The system also includes an arm assembly with an arm, a front rail interface, and a rear rail interface. The front rail interface may be disposed at one end of the arm and includes an interface portion formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the end of the arm to an interface portion of a rack rail.
Claims32
A rack system, comprising:
- a rack having a plurality of rails, each rail having a standard interface portion;
- a pair of arm assemblies for supporting a computer system component, each arm assembly comprising:
- an arm having a first end and a second end;
- a first rail interface disposed at the first end of the arm and having at least one hook formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the first end of the arm to the standard interface portion of a rail;
- the first rail interface further having a selectively releasable securing mechanism operable to releasably interface with the standard interface portion of one of the rails;
- and
- a second rail interface disposed at the second end of the arm and formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the second end of the arm to the standard interface portion of a rail.
An arm assembly for supporting computer system components in a rack system, comprising:
- an arm having a first end and a second end;
- a first rail interface disposed at the first end of the arm and having at least one hook formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the first end of the arm to the standard interface portion of a rail;
- the first rail interface further having a selectively releasable securing mechanism operable to releasably interface with the standard interface portion of a first rack rail;
- and
- a second rail interface disposed at the second end of the arm and formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the second end of the arm to the standard interface portion of a second rack rail.
A rail interface assembly for releasably installing a computer component support arm assembly within a rack, comprising:
- a pair of rail interfaces, each rail interface having:
- at least one hook extending from the rail interface formed to interface with an interface portion of a rack rail;
- a securing mechanism operable to releasably interface with the interface portion of the rack rail;
- and
- each rail interface operable to releasably attach to respective ends of a computer component support arm.
A method for installing an arm assembly for supporting a computer system component within a rack system comprising:
- aligning a first rail interface coupled to a first end of an arm assembly with an interface portion of a first rail of a rack system;
- tool-lessly and releasably securing at least one hook protruding from the first rail interface to the interface portion of the first rail;
- aligning a second rail interface on a second end of the arm assembly with an interface portion of a second rail of the rack system;
- and
- tool-lessly and releasably securing at least one hook protruding from the second rail interface to the interface portion of the second rail.
A method for installing a computer component within a rack system:
- tool-lessly and releasably securing an arm assembly to rack rails, the arm assembly having at least one rail interface slidably attached thereto, the rail interface having at least one hook protruding therefrom;
- and
- installing a computer component to the arm assembly.
A method for installing a computer component within a rack system comprising:
- tool-lessly and releasably securing a pair of arm assemblies to rack rails, one for each side of a computer component;
- releasably securing a latch assembly associated with a first rail interface associated with the arm assembly to the first rack rail;
- and
- installing the computer component to the arm assemblies.
A method for manufacturing an arm assembly for supporting a computer system component in a rack system, comprising:
- forming an arm having a first end and a second end;
- coupling a first rail interface having at least one hook portion to the first end of the arm, the first rail interface formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the first end of the arm to a standard interface portion of a first rail;
- and
- coupling a second rail interface having at least one hook portion to the second end of the arm, the second rail interface formed to tool-lessly and releasably secure the second end of the arm to a standard interface portion of a second rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.