Three-piece universal rail kit for mounting a device to a rack

Abstract

A universal rail mounting kit for mounting a rack-mountable computing device within a computer rack is provided. The universal rail mounting kit includes a rack-mountable sliding rail configured to be attached to the computer rack, a device-mountable receiving rail configured to be attached to the rack-mountable computing device and configured to receive the rack-mountable sliding rail when the rack-mountable computing device is installed in the computer rack, and a device-mountable securing rail configured to be attached to the rack-mountable computing device and configured to secure the rack-mountable computing device to the computer rack after the device-mountable receiving rail has received the rack-mountable sliding rail.

Description

PRIORITY APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. Nonprovisional Patent application Ser. No. 17 / 216,509, filed Mar. 29, 2021, entitled “Universal Rail Kit” (Attorney Docket No. SBNV 1038-1). The priority application is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The subject matter discussed in this section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in this section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in this section or associated with the subject matter provided as background should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in this section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves can also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.[0003]A computer rack, often times referred to as a network rack or a server rack, includes a metal frame and chassis (including pillars) that hold, stack orga...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a universal rail kit that can be used with different types of computer servers that can be mounted on a rack. The kit allows for easy connecting of cables and provides secure mounting of the server to the rack, ensuring that the server does not get damaged or separated from the rack during shipment. The kit includes a rail that has a stepwise tapered second leg, which reduces the height of the rail at the end where the server is mounted. This design helps to protect the server from damage during shipment.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, the OEM rail kits provided by the equipment manufacturers or vendors and / or the OEM rail kits provided by the computer rack manufacturer are not sturdy enough to allow for shipping of various rack-mountable computing devices while installed in a computer rack.

These OEM rail kits have been failing to secure the rack-mountable computing devices to the computer rack when the computer rack is shipped to another location.

Specifically, the OEM rail kits are not sturdy enough to secure the rack-mountable computing devices so that they survive shipping.

As a result, the OEM rail kits will have a point of failure and the computer rack will arrive with the rack-mountable computing devices damaged or displaced from their original locations.

Moreover, OEM rail kits do not have a structure that provides sufficient space for routing cables throughout the computing rack with the various rack-mountable computing devices installed therein.

Specifically, the dimensions, locations and sizes of the OEM rail kits are such that cables cannot be routed as desired by the end user, thus requiring the end user to rout cables in an inefficient manner.

As a result, cables cannot be routed between or along the side of the rack-mountable computing device because the components of the rail kits are in the way.

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