Support mechanism for holding a component in a component rack and a method of manufacture therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides a support mechanism for holding a component in a component rack, a method of manufacture therefor, and a rack of components. The support mechanism, among other elements, may include a shelf configured to hold a component, the shelf having a sidewall with at least two slots therein extending from the sidewall and the shelf. The support mechanism may further included a mounting flange coupleable to the shelf, the mounting flange having at least two tabs configured to engage the at least two slots.

1 . A support mechanism for holding a component in a component rack, comprising; 
 a shelf configured to hold a component, the shelf having a sidewall with at least two slots therein extending from the sidewall and the shelf; and    a mounting flange couplable to the shelf, the mounting flange having at least two tabs configured to engage the at least two slots.    
     
     
         2 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least two tabs are configured to engage the at least two slots and substantially fix all but one axis of movement with respect to eachother.  
     
     
         3 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 2  wherein the at least two slots contain an opening through a face thereof for accepting a fastener.  
     
     
         4 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 3  wherein the at least two tabs contain a threaded opening configured to removably mate with threads of the fastener and thereby secure the one axis of movement.  
     
     
         5 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least two tabs are flush with opposing faces of the mounting flange.  
     
     
         6 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the at least two slots extend outwardly from the sidewall and the shelf.  
     
     
         7 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mounting flange has at least three tabs configured to engage three slots extending from the sidewall and the shelf.  
     
     
         8 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the shelf has slots located along an entire length of the sidewall, and wherein the at least two tabs are configured to engage consecutive slots.  
     
     
         9 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 8  wherein the slots located along the entire length of the sidewall have predetermined and different spacings.  
     
     
         10 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 9  wherein the predetermined and different spacings correlate to predetermined and different spacings of the at least two tabs and establish a position of the mounting flange with respect to the shelf.  
     
     
         11 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mounting flange is configured to mount substantially flush with a front surface of the shelf.  
     
     
         12 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mounting flange is configured to mount at a mid point of the shelf.  
     
     
         13 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mounting flange has an ear extending substantially perpendicular to a surface that the at least two tabs are located on, and wherein the ear is configured to fasten the mounting flange to a vertical position along a component rack.  
     
     
         14 . The support mechanism as recited in  claim 1  wherein the mounting flange is a first mounting flange and further including a second mounting flange coupleable to the shelf, the second mounting flange having at least two tabs configured to engage at least two slots extending from a second opposing sidewall of the shelf.  
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a support mechanism for holding a component in a component rack, comprising; 
 providing a shelf configured to hold a component, the shelf having a sidewall with at least two slots therein extending from the sidewall and the shelf; and    creating a mounting flange coupleable to the shelf, the mounting flange having at least two tabs configured to engage the at least two slots.    
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the at least two tabs are configured to engage the at least two slots and substantially fix all but one axis of movement with respect to eachother.  
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the at least two slots contain an opening through a face thereof for accepting a fastener.  
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein the at least two tabs contain a threaded opening configured to removably mate with threads of the fastener and thereby secure the one axis of movement.  
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the slots are created by punching the sidewall and the tabs are created by stamping the flange.  
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 15  wherein the at least two slots extend outwardly from the sidewall and the shelf.  
     
     
         21 . A rack of components, comprising; 
 a component rack;    a plurality of support mechanisms coupled to the component rack at vertically spaced positions, each support mechanism comprising; 
 a shelf configured to hold a component, the shelf having a sidewall with at least two slots therein extending from the sidewall and the shelf; and  
 a mounting flange coupled to the shelf, the mounting flange having at least two tabs engaging the at least two slots and an ear extending substantially perpendicular to a surface that the at least two tabs are located on, and wherein the ear fastens the flange and shelf to a vertical position along the component rack; and  
   one or more components located in the support mechanisms.    
     
     
         22 . The rack of components as recited in  claim 21  wherein the at least two tabs are configured to engage the at least two slots and substantially fix all but one axis of movement with respect to eachother.  
     
     
         23 . The rack of components as recited in  claim 22  wherein the at least two slots contain an opening through a face thereof for accepting a fastener.  
     
     
         24 . The rack of components as recited in  claim 23  wherein the at least two tabs contain a threaded opening configured to removably mate with threads of the fastener and thereby secure the one axis of movement.  
     
     
         25 . The rack of components as recited in  claim 21  wherein the at least two slots extend outwardly from the sidewall and the shelf.  
     
     
         26 . The rack of components as recited in  claim 21  wherein the mounting flange is a first mounting flange and further including a second mounting flange coupled to a second opposing sidewall of the shelf, the second mounting flange having at least two tabs configured to engage at least two slots extending from the second opposing sidewall and having a second ear extending substantially perpendicular to a surface that the at least two tabs of the second opposing sidewall are located on, and wherein the second ear fastens the second flange and further fastens the shelf to the vertical position along the component rack.  
     
     
         27 . The rack of components as recited in  claim 21  wherein the one or more components are one or more components selected from the group of components consisting of: 
 rectifiers;    converters;    ringers;    distributions;    controllers;    fans;    baffles    trays; and    combinations thereof.