Ventilated housing and assembly

Abstract

A ventilated housing for accommodating one or more components comprises opposed first and second-spaced apart end portions. An air barrier extends at least partially between the first and second end portions for limiting movement of air inside the housing and defining an upper or lower surface of the housing. A first part of the air barrier proximate the first end portion is positioned at a level below the level of a second part of the air barrier proximate the second end portion. An inlet is defined for admitting air into the housing and an outlet is defined for discharging air from the housing. An ventilated housing assembly comprises first and second housings with an angled space between a lower air barrier of the first housing and an upper air barrier of the second housing.

1 . A ventilated housing for accommodating one or more components, the housing comprising: 
 opposed first and second spaced-apart portions;    an upper air barrier extending at least partially between the first and second end portions for limiting upward movement of air inside the housing and having an upper surface;    a first part of the upper air barrier proximate the first end portion being positioned at a level below the level of a second part of the upper air barrier proximate the second end portion;    an inlet defined in the first end portion for admitting air into the housing, the inlet being positioned at a level below the first part;    an outlet for discharging air from the housing;    an element positioned in front of the first end portion at a level between the first and second parts of the upper air barrier, the element being spaced from the first end portion to provide a gap for permitting the passage of air between the element and the first end portion and above the upper air barrier,    wherein the element comprises a support for supporting one or more cables or wires.    
   
   
       2 . The ventilated housing of  claim 1 , wherein the upper air barrier comprises a panel that slopes upwardly in a direction from the first end portion towards the second end portion.  
   
   
       3 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The ventilated housing of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower air barrier disposed below the upper air barrier, extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, at least a portion of the inlet being positioned above the lower air barrier, a first part of the lower air barrier proximate one end portion being positioned at a level below the level of a second part of the lower barrier proximate the other end portion.  
   
   
       10 . The ventilated housing of  claim 9 , wherein the first part of the lower air barrier is proximate the same end portion of the housing as the first part of the upper air barrier.  
   
   
       11 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . The ventilated housing of  claim 1 , wherein the element is supported by the housing such that the distance between the element and the housing can be varied.  
   
   
       14 . The ventilated housing of  claim 1 , further comprising a structure for supporting another housing above the ventilated housing to provide a space between the upper air barrier and a lower portion of the other housing.  
   
   
       15 . A ventilated housing assembly, comprising a first and second ventilated housing, 
 the second housing being positioned below the first housing;    the housing assembly having first and second opposed, spaced-apart end portions;    the first housing having a lower air barrier extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, a first part of the lower air barrier proximate the first end portion being disposed at a level below the level of a second part of the lower air barrier proximate the second end portion;    the second housing having an upper air barrier extending at least partially between the first and second end portions, a first part of the upper air barrier proximate the first end portion being disposed at a level below the level of a second part of the upper air barrier of the second housing proximate the second end portion;    the upper air barrier of the second housing being spaced from the lower air barrier of the first housing to provide a space therebetween;    the second housing further comprising an element positioned in front of the first end portion at a level between the first and second parts of the upper air barrier, the element being spaced from the first end portion to provide a gap for permitting the passage of air between the element and the first end portion and into the space between the upper air barrier and the lower air barrier,    wherein the element comprises a support for supporting one or more cables or wires.    
   
   
       16 . The ventilated housing assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the first housing comprises an inlet in the first end portion for admitting air into the housing, wherein the inlet is disposed opposite to the second part of the lower air barrier.  
   
   
       17 . The ventilated housing assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the second housing comprises an outlet in the second end portion for discharging air from the second housing, and wherein at least a portion of the outlet is disposed at the same level of at least a portion of the space between the upper and lower air barrier.  
   
   
       18 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . The ventilated housing assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the upper air barrier and the lower air barrier are parallel to each other or at different angles.  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . The ventilated housing of  claim 1 , wherein the element directs air between the element and the first end portion and above the upper air barrier.  
   
   
       23 . The ventilated housing of  claim 22 , wherein the element comprises: 
 a base portion, and    a lip extending from the base portion toward the first end portion to direct air between the element and the first end portion and above the upper air barrier.    
   
   
       24 . The ventilated housing of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises redirecting means for redirecting the one or more cables or wires.  
   
   
       25 . The ventilated housing of  claim 24 , wherein the redirecting means redirects the one or more cables or wires from the first end portion of the housing to a side of the housing perpendicular to the first end portion.  
   
   
       26 . The ventilated housing of  claim 25 , wherein the redirecting means comprises at least one protrusion.  
   
   
       27 . The ventilated housing of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises perforations for use in lacing or tie-wrapping the one or more cables or wires to the element.  
   
   
       28 . The ventilated housing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the element directs air between the element and the first end portion and into the space between the upper air barrier and the lower air barrier.  
   
   
       29 . The ventilated housing assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the element comprises: 
 a base portion; and    a lip extending from the base portion toward the first end portion to direct air between the element and the first end portion and into the space between the upper air barrier and the lower air barrier.    
   
   
       30 . The ventilated housing assembly of  claim 15  wherein the support comprises redirecting means for redirecting the one or more cables or wires.  
   
   
       31 . The ventilated housing assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the redirecting means comprises at least one protrusion.  
   
   
       32 . The ventilated housing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the support comprises perforations for use in lacing or tie-wrapping the one or more cables or wires to the element.