Cable carrying method and apparatus for modular computer cabinets and the like

• US 4,957,333 A
• Filed: 06/23/1989
• Issued: 09/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Hsu, Sawyer C-Y., Valentine, Sidney L., Fischer, Robert W. Jr., Daleo, Carlo V., Fratis, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Falk, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US07/370,944
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223, 312/107, 312/199, 312/195, 312/209, 312/252, 312/108, 312/320, 361/48, 361/393, 361/396, 361/380, 361/394, 361/395, 361/428, 108/50
• US Class Current: 312/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/26 Installations of cables, lines, or separate protective tubing therefor directly on or in walls, ceilings, or floors by means of insulators H02G3/24; supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing F16L3/00; hose-clips F16L33/02

Abstract

A cable of wire (information bus, power supply, etc.) carrying method and apparatus for modular computer cabinets and the like in which the cabinet frame end walls have notch-like voids. The notches, preferably on the rear side of the cabinets are nearly fully enclosed, save a small opening (to preserve structural integrity) through which the cables may enter. The openings are covered by closure members and decorative trims once the cable is in place. The result is modular computer system without unsightly wires, and in which the modules may be easily and quickly inserted or removed without the need for dismantling the cable attached to the backs of the other modules.

Claims

1. A computer cabinet comprising:

a plurality of end walls, at least one of which has a notch at a first edge of said end wall, said notch for receiving interconnect cables which span through planes projected by said end walls;

a closure member corresponding to each said notch for closing said notch to prevent cable ingress or egress through said notch, but not preventing the extension of interconnect cables through said notch and through the projected planes of said end walls; and

structural members spanningly coupled to said first edges, but not completely covering said notch;

said closure members removably coupled to said structural members.

2. The computer cabinet in claim 1 wherein a portion of each said end wall wraps around a structural member.

3. The computer cabinet in claim 1 further comprising a cover removably coupled to said closure members to cloak interconnect cables between said closure members.

4. The computer cabinet in claim 2 further comprising a cover removably coupled to said closure members to cloak interconnect cables between said closure members.

5. A modular computer cabinet cluster comprising a plurality of computer cabinets, each said computer cabinet comprising:

a plurality of end walls, at least one of which has a notch at a first edge of said end wall, said notch for receiving interconnect cables which span through planes projected by said end walls;

a closure member corresponding to each said notch for closing said notch to prevent cable ingress and egress through said notch, but not preventing the extension of interconnect cables through said notch and through the projected planes of said end walls;

each said computer cabinet electrically coupled by at least one interconnect cable to at least one other computer cabinet via a duct formed by positioning said cabinets so that the notch of one computer cabinet is adjacent to the notch of another computer cabinet; and

structural members spanningly coupled to said first edges, but not completely covering said notch;

said closure members removably coupled to said structural members.

6. The modular computer cabinet cluster in in claim 5 wherein a portion of each said end wall wraps around a structural member.

8. The modular computer cabinet cluster in claim 6 wherein each said computer cabinet further comprises a cover removably coupled to said closure members to cloak interconnect cables between said closure members.

7. The modular computer cabinet cluster in claim 11 wherein each said computer cabinet further comprises a cover removably coupled to said closure members to cloak interconnect cables between said closure members.