EQUIPMENT CASE WITH SLIDEOUT RACKS

• US 20100187148A1
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becklin Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Environmental Container Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Becklin, Dennis M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,411,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/521
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1421 Drawers for printed circuit boards

Abstract

A container includes an outer case with an interior volume sized to receive an equipment rack assembly, which in turn includes an inner (i.e., movable or slidable) platform assembly slidably coupled to an outer (i.e., non-movable or fixed) isolation assembly fixed to the case. In one example, the inner platform assembly slidably engages the outer isolation assembly using a joint, such as a dove-tail style joint. In addition, the outer isolation assembly may be supported by one or more shock absorbent devices positioned between the outer isolation assembly and the case. The shock absorbent devices may be positioned, oriented and tuned to achieve a desired amount of shock attenuation and damping.

Claims

1. A container for receiving equipment, the container comprising:

an outer case;

an outer isolation member fixed to the outer case, the outer isolation member having at least one truss-shaped portion having an apex formed at a desired angle and the at least one truss-shaped portion located between first and second end portions, the outer isolation member further having a first engagement portion;

a shock absorbent device located between the outer case and at least the first end portion of the outer isolation member, the shock absorbent device having a primary load axis arranged at a desired angle relative to a horizontal reference plane; and

an inner platform member having a second engagement portion slidably engageable with the first engagement portion of the outer isolation member, the inner platform member configured to receive the equipment.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the first and second engagement portions include complementary dovetail-style couplers.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the shock absorbent device includes a solid body made from an elastomeric material having a selected durometer.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the desired angle of the primary load axis of the shock absorbent device is in a range of about 0 to about 90 degrees relative to the horizontal reference plane.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the desired angle of the primary load axis of the shock absorbent device is about 45 degrees relative to the horizontal reference plane.

6. The container of claim 4, wherein the desired angle of the primary load axis of the shock absorbent device is about 30 degrees relative to the horizontal reference plane.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the desired angle of the at least one truss-shaped portion is an obtuse angle.

8. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one planar portion extending from the at least one truss-shaped portion.

9. An assembly receivable into an outer case of an equipment container, the assembly comprising:

an outer isolation member fixed to the outer case, the outer isolation member having at least one truss-shaped portion having an apex formed at a desired angle and the at least one truss-shaped portion located between first and second end portions, the outer isolation member further having a first engagement portion; and

a shock absorbent device located between the outer case and at least the first end portion of the outer isolation member, the shock absorbent device having a primary load axis arranged at a desired angle relative to a horizontal reference plane.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising an inner platform member having a second engagement portion configured to slidably engage with the first engagement portion of the outer isolation member, the inner platform member receivable into the outer isolation member and configured to receive the equipment.

11. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising at least one planar portion extending from the at least one truss-shaped portion.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second engagement portions include complementary dovetail-style couplers.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the shock absorbent device includes a solid body made from an elastomeric material having a selected durometer.

14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the desired angle of the primary load axis of the shock absorbent device is in a range of about 0 to about 90 degrees relative to the horizontal reference plane.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the desired angle of the primary load axis of the shock absorbent device is about 45 degrees relative to the horizontal reference plane.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the desired angle of the primary load axis of the shock absorbent device is about 30 degrees relative to the horizontal reference plane.

17. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the desired angle of the at least one truss-shaped portion is an obtuse angle.

18. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the shock absorbent device includes a variable spring rate.