Adjustable equipment rack

Abstract

An equipment rack is disclosed having two opposing structural support frames connected by a plurality of elongated beams defining an adjustable interior volume having a length, width and depth therein. Each opposing support frame has at least two posts defining two opposing sides. The posts are connected by a plurality of elongated cross beams which include a portion that extends outwardly from at least one of the opposing sides. At least two opposing rails are slidably mounted on the plurality of elongated cross beams to permit movement of the rails along the longitudinal axis of the elongated cross beams. Thus, the interior volume of the adjustable equipment rack may be adjusted, e.g., expanded by sliding the opposing rails of each opposing support frame along the plurality of cross beams and into the portion of the cross beams extending beyond the posts.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable equipment rack comprising: 
 a left-hand frame including at least two left-hand carrier beams oriented horizontally;    a right-hand frame attached to the left-hand frame and including at least two right-hand carrier beams oriented horizontally, said at least two right-hand carrier beams oriented in facing, parallel relationship with respect to said at least two left-hand carrier beams;    at least two left-hand mounting rails defining a plurality of left-hand attachment points and adjustably mounted for horizontal movement relative to two or more of the at least two left-hand carrier beams; and    at least two right-hand mounting rails defining a plurality of right-hand attachment points and adjustably mounted for horizontal movement relative to two or more of the at least two right-hand carrier beams.    
     
     
         2 . An adjustable equipment rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the left-hand and right-hand carrier beams are C-shaped in cross section.  
     
     
         3 . An adjustable equipment rack as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the at least two left-hand and at least two right-hand mounting rails are adjustably attached to the at least two left-hand and at least two right-hand carrier beams, respectively, with screws extending through each mounting rail proximate the carrier beams and channel nuts positioned within each respective C-shaped channel.  
     
     
         4 . An adjustable equipment rack as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a spring attached to each channel nut.  
     
     
         5 . An adjustable equipment rack as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising an end cap mounted to the open end of each carrier beam.  
     
     
         6 . An adjustable equipment rack as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least two left-hand mounting rails and at least two right-hand mounting rails are full-height rails.  
     
     
         7 . An adjustable equipment rack as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a half-height left-hand mounting rail defining a plurality of attachment points and adjustably mounted for horizontal movement to two or more of the at least two left-hand carrier beams and a half-height right-hand mounting rail defining a plurality of attachment points and adjustably mounted for horizontal movement to two or more of the at least two right-hand carrier beams.  
     
     
         8 . An adjustable equipment rack as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a front base angle mounted to the left-hand and right-hand frame and a rear base angle mounted to the left-hand and right-hand frame for supporting the adjustable equipment rack.  
     
     
         9 . An adjustable equipment rack comprising 
 two opposing support frames defining an interior volume having a length, width and depth therein, each opposing support frame including two posts defining opposing sides, wherein each post is connected by a plurality of elongated cross beams having portions extending outwardly from at least one of the opposing sides; and    at least two opposing rails slidably mounted on the plurality of elongated cross beams of the opposing support frames to permit movement of the rails along the longitudinal axis of the elongated cross beams.