Rack Fastener Clip Assembly for Front-Access Equipment Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners for securing equipment in rack systems are inconvenient, time-consuming, and pose risks of injury or damage due to restricted access, sharp edges, and the need for specialist tools, especially when equipment is already installed.
Innovation Solution
A rack fastener with a first and second stud extending through apertures from the back and front of a member, connected by a clipping portion that engages with a third aperture to secure the equipment, allowing easy installation and removal without specialist tools, and featuring a patterned engagement for secure fastening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bolt and nut fasteners are used for each fastening point, then secure fastening is achieved, but installation time increases and access difficulty worsens when rack is populated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening functions into a single integrated fastener unit. The fastener includes a first stud and second stud connected by a connecting portion, allowing simultaneous fastening at multiple points. The clipping portion engages with a third aperture to secure the entire fastener assembly to the rack in one operation, eliminating the need to separately install and secure multiple individual bolts and nuts.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener is segmented into distinct functional components: studs for fastening, connecting portion for structural integration, and clipping portion for secure attachment to the rack. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while enabling the entire assembly to be installed as a unified unit, reducing overall installation time and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rack is populated with equipment, then rack functionality is achieved, but access to fastening apertures becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener utilizes a third aperture positioned at a different spatial location (between the first and second apertures) to engage the clipping portion. This dimensional arrangement allows the fastener to be accessed and installed from the front of the rack, bypassing the need to reach behind existing equipment. The clipping portion engages the third aperture from the front, enabling installation even when the rack is populated.
Solution Approach 2:
The clipping portion acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the fastener and the rack structure. By engaging the third aperture, the clipping portion provides an alternative access path that does not require direct access to the locations of the first and second apertures, which may be obscured by installed equipment.
3Ease of manufacture
If fasteners are accessed from behind the front presenting vertical face, then installation is possible, but installation time increases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is pre-configured with the clipping portion designed to engage the third aperture from the front. This preliminary design arrangement allows installers to access and install the fastener directly from the front of the rack without needing to reach behind the front presenting vertical face or remove existing equipment, significantly reducing installation time and complexity.
4Reliability
If multiple fasteners are used to secure equipment, then security is improved, but number of components increases and risk of loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastening functions are merged into a single integrated fastener assembly. The first stud and second stud are connected by the connecting portion, and the entire assembly is secured to the rack via the clipping portion engaging the third aperture. This unified design provides secure fastening at multiple points while reducing the number of separate components that could be lost or misplaced.
Data Source
AI summary
A rack fastener is provided to engage and retain a first member and hold a second member to the first member. The fastener has two coextensive studs, each having base portions, to install from a back surface of the first member each into separate apertures thereof, such that the studs extend through the separate apertures from a front surface of the first member. A connecting portion connects the two base portions. There is also, a clipping portion extending, directly or indirectly, from one of the base portions, the clipping portion having at least one engagement face to engage a region of another aperture of the first member so that the fastener is substantially prevented from being separated from the first member. The two studs can pass through respective apertures of the second member, and thereafter fasteners can engage each stud to secure the second member to the first member.