International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Camillo Sassano

Kevin Lavern Schultz

Aaron Roger Cox

Matthew Allen Butterbaugh

Eric Alan Eckberg

Jason E Minyard

Paula Besterman

Scott Alan Shurson

Joni E Saylor

William Paul Risk

Ryan Elsasser

Michael Scott Good

Sean M Ackley

Sterett Baxter Schanze

John G Torok

Arthur J Higby

Benjamin G Shaw

Angel E Delgado

Michael Vincent DeBole

Jared E Schott

Steven E Howell

John Charles Elliott

Paul Andrew Wormsbecher

Kevin O'Connell

Daniel Paul Kelaher

Steven C McIntosh

George Willard Van Leeuwen

Christopher Michael Marroquin

Robert Edward Steinbugler

Glenn Edward Myrto

John Paul Scavuzzo

Timothy M Wiwel

Brandon R Christenson

Martin David Williams

Nathan Lee Dunfee

Michael I McGregor

Joseph H McKenzie

Khaalid Persaud Juggan Mcmillan

Franklin Gurney

John W Campbell

IT rack enclosure door

Embodiments are disclosed for a latch assembly apparatus. The latch assembly apparatus includes an effort arm, latch housing, a fulcrum, and a torsion spring. The latch housing includes a resistance arm having a claw portion, and an ejection arm. The torsion spring is configured to provide a rotational force around the fulcrum, and on the resistance arm, resulting from a tensioning of the torsion spring between a first end of the torsion spring fixed to the effort arm, and a second end of the torsion spring fixed to a predetermined preload hole disposed on the latch housing. Further, when the latch assembly apparatus is mounted to a removable element, and the removable element is placed in a connection with a drawer element by the latch assembly apparatus, the resistance arm applies a preload to the connection.

Latching a removable element with tolerance-stack compliance

Server rack cover

In an approach to a one-handed removable component (RC) extraction, a fixed length strap and a variable length strap, based on a configurable diameter loop in the variable length strap, are attached to each other. The variable length loop passes through the RC extraction handle and encircles a RC release lever. The fixed length strap is attached to the RC extraction handle. The loop diameter is calibrated such that pulling on the fixed length strap first applies force to the variable length loop engaging the release handle, in a direction perpendicular to the applied force, without damage before transferring force to the fixed length strap to extract the RC.

Component latch release adjustable handle

A latch assembly includes a lever arm affixed to a latch pivot point of rotation with a cam having a connecting slot. A load mechanism is configured to apply a force on the latch pivot point to retain the lever arm in a first position. The load mechanism is tuned to apply the force along a tolerance range of operation of the latch assembly.

Tunable tolerance stack-compliant latching

A configurable door panel cover includes a first face of a first door that is perforated and includes one or more attachment points, which one or more configurable panels may attach to. The configurable door panel cover includes a fastener assembly that includes at least one fastener that attaches to the configurable door panel cover, and a spacing mechanism. The spacing mechanism attaches to the fastener that is attached to the configurable door panel cover and to one of the one or more attachment points on the first face of the first door. The spacing mechanism attaches the first configurable door panel cover at a first orientation that includes a first angle between the configurable door panel cover and the first spacing mechanism. The fastener assembly may be rotated to the configurable door panel cover.

Configurable door panels

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a landing pad having a mating portion configured to mate with a mating feature of a removable element as the removable element approaches the landing pad in a first direction. The apparatus also includes a mount along which the landing pad is movable in a second direction. A lever is positionable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the lever being coupled to the landing pad for translating the landing pad along the mount in the second direction during movement thereof from the disengaged position toward the engaged position. The first direction is different than the second direction.

Method and apparatus for the alignment and locking of removable elements with a connector

A system according to one embodiment includes a pair of members for mounting to a computer rack in a parallel orientation relative to one another, at least two bezels configured for extending between the members and mounting to the members, and at least two locks for selectively locking the bezels to at least one of the members. A system according to another embodiment includes a frame for mounting to a computer rack. The frame includes members oriented in a rectangular configuration, at least two bezels configured for extending between opposite members of the frame, and at least two locks for selectively locking the bezels to at least one of the members. A system according to another embodiment includes a pair of members for mounting to a computer rack in a parallel orientation relative to one another, and an array of locks coupled to one of the members.

Members and locks for securing devices and/or slots in a computer rack

Slidable assemblies are provided which include a support, a slidable assembly, and a spring-clip element. The slidable assembly, which includes a slide member, is coupled to the support to slide along the support between a first position and a second position. The spring-clip element is associated with the support, and receives the slide member of the slidable assembly. The slide member translates within the spring-clip element as the slidable assembly is slid between the first position and the second position, and is retained by the spring-clip element in position when the slidable assembly is slid to the second position to hold the slidable assembly and restrain the slidable assembly from sliding along the support to the first position.

Slidable assembly with spring clip retainer

An apparatus includes a coupling rod having a longitudinal axis and disposed within one or more bearing elements that laterally constrain the coupling rod while enabling axial rotation, multiple latching barbs coupled to the coupling rod, rotational force elements that apply a rotational force to the latching barbs in a latching direction and resist rotation of the latching barbs in an unlatching direction. The apparatus may be deployed in a rack system having a rack drawer. The apparatus may also include barb engagement elements for engaging and latching the latching barbs when the rack drawer is moved from an open position to a closed position. Rotation of the coupling rod in the unlatching direction unlatches the latching barbs when the rack drawer is in the closed position and enables a user to open the rack drawer. A method that uses the apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Drawer latching assembly

Rack-mountable assemblies are provided which include a structure to be mounted to a frame of an electronics rack, and a spring-hinged mounting bracket associated with and extending from a side of the structure to facilitate mounting the structure to the frame of the electronics rack. The spring-hinged mounting bracket facilitates insertion of the structure into the frame by pivoting inward towards the side of the structure upon the spring-hinged mounting bracket encountering an obstruction as the rack-mountable assembly is positioned within the frame for mounting to the frame.

Rack-mountable assembly with spring-hinged mounting bracket(s)

A server rack according to one embodiment includes a sidewall defining an interior, an aperture in the sidewall, and a retractable terminal horizontally positionable between a retracted position and an extended position. The retractable terminal is positioned in the interior when in the retracted position. The retractable terminal is configured to extend through the aperture of the sidewall. The retractable terminal includes a base frame and a pivoting frame pivotally coupled to the base frame. The pivoting frame is configured to receive at least a display. The pivoting frame is positionable between an undeployed position and a deployed position relative to the base frame when the retractable terminal is in the extended position. The pivoting frame is about parallel to the base frame when in the undeployed position. The pivoting frame is oriented at least 30 degrees from the base frame when in the deployed position.

Rack having a stowable retractable terminal for varying the positioning of input devices relative to the rest of the rack and/or a user

A product according to one embodiment includes a first bracket for coupling to a rail of a computer rack, and a bezel having a lock for selectively locking the bezel to the first bracket. A method according to another embodiment includes coupling a first bracket to a rail of a computer rack, and coupling a bezel to the first bracket. A system according to yet another embodiment includes a computer rack, a first bracket coupled to a rail of the computer rack, and a bezel having a lock for selectively locking the bezel to the first bracket.

Secure add-on brackets and bezel for locking devices and/or slots in a computer rack

Electronics rack door assemblies are provided to hingedly mount an air inlet or an air outlet side of an electronics rack, and be rotatable between closed and open positions. The door assembly includes a door frame, to hingedly mount to the electronics rack, with an opening to facilitate a flow of air through the electronics rack. The door assembly further includes an acoustical panel pivotably coupled to the door frame and aligned, at least in part, over the opening in the door frame. With the door frame hingedly mounted to the electronics rack at the air inlet or outlet side, the acoustical panel automatically pivots from an operation position relative to the door frame with the door frame in the closed position, to an at least partially collapsed position relative to the door frame with the door frame in the open position.

Electronics rack door assembly with collapsible acoustical panel

Rack-mountable assemblies are provided which include a cover configured to fixedly mount to a frame of an electronics rack, and a drawer configured to slidably mount to the frame adjacent to the cover to slide relative to the cover. When operatively mounted to the frame, the cover and drawer together define an enclosure for one or more electronic components. The assembly further includes an electromagnetic shielding structure to provide, at least in part, electromagnetic shielding at a gap between the cover and drawer when operatively positioned within the electronics rack. The electromagnetic shielding structure includes an electromagnetic shielding plate which overlies, at least in part, the gap between the cover and the drawer, and which self-adjusts with sliding of the drawer into the electronics rack to facilitate providing the electromagnetic shielding at the gap between the cover and the drawer.

Rack-mountable assembly with electromagnetic shielding structure(s)

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Camillo Sassano