Interchangeable rack system

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to rack systems for housing computing devices. The rack may include shelves supported by flanges of a pair of corresponding inserts. The flanges may be spaced along the length of each of the inserts. The distance between the flanges may define the height of a shelf when placed in the rack. The pair of corresponding inserts may be placed along an inner sidewall of the rack by mating hooks of the inserts with corresponding slots of the inner sidewall and subsequently removed by demating the hooks and slots. For example, a pair of inserts with one distance between the flanges may be replaced by a pair of inserts with another distance between the flanges in order to increase the shelf height of the rack. By replacing the shelves and/or the inserts, a user may quickly and easily in order to reconfigure the rack.

1 . A method of reconfiguring a rack having a first shelf for holding one or more computing components, the method comprising:
 removing the first shelf from the rack;   removing a first set of corresponding inserts from the rack, each insert of the first set of corresponding inserts having a plurality of flanges spaced at a first flange distance, at least some of the plurality of flanges being configured to support the first shelf; and   reconfiguring the rack by:
 placing a second set of corresponding inserts into the rack, each insert of the second set of corresponding inserts having a second plurality of flanges spaced at a second flange distance different from the first flange distance; 
 placing a set of shelves on the second set of corresponding inserts such that the set of shelves are supported by at least some of the second plurality of flanges; and 
 placing one or more replacement computing components on the set of shelves. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein removing the first shelf from the rack further includes sliding the first shelf over the at least some of the plurality of flanges. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a first insert of the first set of corresponding inserts includes a set of hooks and the rack further includes a first side wall having a first inner surface, the first inner surface including a plurality of slots configured to receive and release the set of hooks, and wherein removing the first set of corresponding inserts includes releasing the set of hooks from the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the rack further includes a cap and a base, the first sidewall has a length that spans from the cap to the base, and removing the first set of corresponding inserts further includes moving the first insert towards the cap and away from the base. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each hook of the set of hooks is associated with a corresponding slot of the plurality of slots and wherein removing the first set of corresponding inserts further includes moving the insert away from the first inner surface thereby moving each hook of the set of hooks through the corresponding slot of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first insert of the first set of corresponding inserts includes a first set of hooks arranged in a first configuration, a second insert of the second set of corresponding inserts includes a second set of hooks arranged in the first configuration, the rack further includes a first side wall having a first inner surface, the first inner surface including a plurality of slots configured to receive and release hooks arranged in the first configuration, and placing the second set of corresponding inserts into the rack includes lining up each hook of the second set of hooks with a corresponding slot of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein placing the second set of corresponding inserts includes moving each hook of the set of hooks through the corresponding slot of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein placing the set of corresponding inserts includes moving each hook of the set of hooks towards the base and away from the cap until each hook is supported by a portion of the first side wall adjacent the corresponding slot of the set of slots. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the set of shelves includes sliding a second shelf over the at least some of the second plurality of flanges. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the one or more computing components from the first shelf. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after placing the set of shelves on the second set of corresponding inserts, screwing a screw through a shelf of the first set of shelves and into an insert of the second set of corresponding inserts. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein removing the first shelf further comprises removing a second screw from the first shelf that holds the first shelf to an insert of the first set of corresponding inserts. 
     
     
         13 . A rack assembly for housing one or more computing components, the rack assembly comprising:
 a rack includes a first side wall having a first inner surface and a second side wall having a second inner surface opposite of the first inner surface, the first inner surface including a plurality of slots;   a pair of corresponding inserts comprising:
 a first insert of the pair of corresponding inserts having a first set of hooks that extend through the plurality of slots in the first inner surface and hold the first insert to the first inner surface, the first insert having a first plurality of flanges spaced at a flange distance; and 
 a second insert of the pair of corresponding inserts having a second set of hooks that extend through the plurality of slots in the first inner surface and hold the second insert to the second inner surface, the second insert having a second plurality of flanges spaced at the flange distance; and 
   a shelf supported at one edge by a flange of the first plurality of flanges and at another edge by a flange of the second plurality of flanges.   
     
     
         14 . The rack assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more computing components situated on the shelf. 
     
     
         15 . The rack assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the rack further comprises a cap and a base, wherein the first sidewall has a length that spans a distance between the cap and the base and the first insert has a length that is less than the distance between the cap and the base. 
     
     
         16 . The rack assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a first screw going through the shelf and into the first insert in order to further support the shelf and a second screw going through the shelf and into the second insert in order to further support the shelf. 
     
     
         17 . The rack assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of corresponding inserts are configured to be interchanged with another pair of corresponding inserts. 
     
     
         18 . A kit adapted for assembly into a plurality of different rack configurations for housing one or more computing components, the kit comprising:
 a rack includes a first side wall having a first inner surface, the first inner surface including a plurality of slots;   a first pair of corresponding inserts having a first set of hooks and arranged to mate with the plurality of slots, the first set of corresponding inserts further having a plurality of flanges spaced at a first flange distance for accommodating shelves of a first height between the inserts of the first pair of corresponding inserts; and   a second pair of corresponding inserts having a second set of hooks, the second sets of hooks being arranged to mate with the plurality of slots, the second pair of inserts further having a plurality of flanges spaced at a second flange distance for accommodating shelves of a second height, the second flange distance being different from the second flange distance.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising a set of shelves, each shelf of the set of shelves having a different configuration for supporting a computing component, wherein the set of shelves includes a first shelf of the first height. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein the set of shelves includes a second shelf of the second height.