Telecommunications equipment rack having hemmed upright supports for improved structural stiffness

Abstract

A rack assembly for mounting telecommunications equipment is provided which utilizes at least one but preferably two upstanding spaced-apart frame members that have at least one but preferably both front and back flanges hemmed in order to provide improved structural stiffness to the rack as well as enhanced distance between the upstanding frame members for mounting digital telecommunications equipment and the like therebetween.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a rack assembly for mounting telecommunications equipment of the type comprising a pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members wherein each of said frame members defines an upper and a lower end; a horizontal frame member extending between the upper ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; and a base extending between the lower ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; the improvement wherein at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members comprises: 
 an upstanding spaced-apart frame member with a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a web having a bottom with a relatively short side portion on one side and a relatively long side portion on the other side and said frame member being outwardly directed relative to the other of said pair of frame members, and wherein at least one of said relatively short side portion and said relatively long side portion is bent back upon itself so as to create a hemmed flange side portion;    wherein the rack assembly possesses enhanced structural strength.    
     
     
         2 . The rack assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the length of the side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the side portion.  
     
     
         3 . The rack assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members comprises a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a web having a bottom length and a first and second bend to form the relatively short side portion on one side that is then bent back upon itself to create the relatively short hemmed side portion and having a first and second bend to form the relatively long side portion on the other side of the frame member that is then bent back upon itself to create the relatively long hemmed side portion of said frame member.  
     
     
         4 . The rack assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the frame member is formed of steel having six bends and seven wall segments.  
     
     
         5 . The rack assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the frame member is formed of one-eighth inch thick steel.  
     
     
         6 . The rack assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members comprises a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a web having a bottom length and a first bend to form the relatively short side portion on one side that is then bent back upon itself to create the relatively short hemmed side portion and having a first bend to form the relatively long side portion on the other side of the frame member that is then bent back upon itself to create the relatively long hemmed side portion of said frame member.  
     
     
         7 . The rack assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the frame member is formed of steel having four bends and five wall segments.  
     
     
         8 . The rack assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the frame member is formed of one-eighth inch thick steel.  
     
     
         9 . In a rack assembly for mounting telecommunications equipment of the type comprising a pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members wherein each of said frame members defines an upper and a lower end; a horizontal frame member extending between the upper ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; and a base extending between the lower ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; the improvement wherein at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members comprises: 
 an upstanding spaced-apart frame member with a generally U-shaped six bend and seven wall segment cross-section comprising a web having a bottom length and a first and second bend to form the relatively short side portion on one side that is then bent back upon itself to create the relatively short hemmed side portion and having a first and second bend to form the relatively long side portion on the other side of the frame member that is then bent back upon itself to create the relatively long hemmed side portion of said frame member;    wherein the rack assembly possesses enhanced structural strength.    
     
     
         10 . The rack assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the length of the relatively short side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the relatively short side portion and the length of the relatively long side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the relatively long side portion.  
     
     
         11 . In a rack assembly for mounting telecommunications equipment of the type comprising a pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members wherein each of said frame members defines an upper and a lower end; a horizontal frame member extending between the upper ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; and a base extending between the lower ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; the improvement wherein at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart-frame members comprises: 
 an upstanding spaced-apart frame member with a generally U-shaped four bend and five wall segment cross-section comprising a web having a bottom length and a first bend to form the relatively short side portion on one side that is then bent back upon itself to create the relatively short hemmed side portion and having a first bend to form the relatively long side portion on the other side of the frame member that is then back upon itself to create the relatively long hemmed side portion of said frame member;    wherein the rack assembly possesses enhanced structural strength.    
     
     
         12 . The rack assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the length of the relatively short side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the relatively short side portion and the length of the relatively long side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the relatively long side portion.  
     
     
         13 . In a rack assembly for mounting telecommunications equipment of the type comprising a pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members wherein each of said frame members defines an upper and a lower end; a horizontal frame member extending between the upper ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; and a base extending between the lower ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; the improvement wherein at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members comprises: 
 an upstanding spaced-apart frame member with a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a web having a bottom with a first side portion on one side and a second side portion on the other side and said frame member being outwardly directed relative to the other of said pair of frame members, and wherein each of said first and second side portions is bent back upon itself so as to create a hemmed flange side portion;    wherein the rack assembly possesses enhanced structural strength.    
     
     
         14 . The rack assembly according to  claim 13  wherein the length of the first side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the first side portion and the length of the second side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the second long side portion.  
     
     
         15 . The rack assembly according to  claim 13  wherein the at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members comprises a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a web having a bottom length and a first and second bend to form the first side portion on one side that is then bent back upon itself to create the first hemmed flange side portion and having a first and second bend to form the second side portion on the other side of the frame member that is then bent back upon itself to create the second hemmed flange side portion of said frame member.  
     
     
         16 . The rack assembly according to  claim 15  wherein the frame member is formed of steel having six bends and seven wall segments.  
     
     
         17 . The rack assembly according to  claim 13  wherein the at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members comprises a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a web having a bottom length and a first bend to form the first side portion on one side that is then bent back upon itself to create the first hemmed flange side portion and having a first bend to form the second side portion on the other side of the frame member that is then bent back upon itself to create the second hemmed flange portion of said frame member.  
     
     
         18 . The rack assembly according to  claim 17  wherein the frame member is formed of steel having four bends and five wall segments.  
     
     
         19 . In a rack assembly for mounting telecommunications equipment of the type comprising a pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members wherein each of said frame members defines an upper and a lower end; a horizontal frame member extending between the upper ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; and a base extending between the lower ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; the improvement wherein at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members comprises: 
 an upstanding spaced-apart frame member with a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a web having a first side portion on one side that is then bent back upon itself to create a first hemmed side portion and having a second side portion on the other side of the frame member that is then back upon itself to create a second hemmed side portion of said frame member that is equal in length to the first hemmed side portion;    wherein the rack assembly possesses enhanced structural strength.    
     
     
         20 . The rack assembly according to  claim 19  wherein the length of the first side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the first side portion and the length of the second side portion bent back upon itself is parallel to the remaining length of the second side portion.  
     
     
         21 . In a rack assembly for mounting telecommunications equipment of the type comprising a pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members wherein each of said frame members defines an upper and a lower end; a horizontal frame member extending between the upper ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; and a base extending between the lower ends of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart frame members; the improvement wherein at least one of said pair of upstanding spaced-apart-frame members comprises: 
 an upstanding spaced-apart frame member with a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a web having a bottom length and a first side portion on one side that is bent back upon itself to create a hemmed side portion and a second side portion on the other side of the frame member that forms a non-hemmed side portion;    wherein the rack assembly possesses enhanced structural strength.    
     
     
         22 . The rack assembly according to  claim 21  wherein the hemmed side portion is shorter than the non-hemmed side portion.