Rack for suspending a component below a support surface

• US 5,131,620 A
• Filed: 03/18/1991
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Boundy, Bruce K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbott, David L.
• Application Number:
  US07/670,634
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 248/225.1, 248/637, 248/674, 248/675, 248/223.4, 248/309.1, 248/317, 248/320, 248/323, 248/327, 248/328, 248/499, 248/680, 248/201, 248/500, 248/505
• US Class Current: 248/674
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2097/006 Computer holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 21/0314 Platforms for supporting office equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/048 adapted to forward-backward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409

Abstract

A rack for suspending an electrical or mechanical component below a support surface. The rack is quickly assembled with relatively few parts, but it is easily adjustable to a accommodate a large variety of component shapes and dimensions. The rack includes two loops each having a right angle member, a strap or belt, and a buckle. The two loops are associated with a plate member which supports and separates the loops. The plate member is placed on the upper surface of the electrical component to be suspended and the two loops are then tightly secured about the component. The resulting assembly is then attached to the support surface. In a preferred embodiment, a bracket is secured to the support surface and the plate member of the assembly is telescopically engaged with the bracket, horizontally sliding the assembly into position below the support surface.

Claims

1. A rack for suspending an electrical or mechanical component below a support surface, comprising:

first and second loop means,

each of said first and second loop means including right angle means defining first and second leg portions, a belt having first and second ends, and a buckle for coupling the belt ends in a loop which includes the right angle means while permitting adjustment of loop size,

a support plate linking said first and second loop means, with predetermined leg portions of the right angle means being associated with the support plate such that the remaining leg portions depend vertically from the support plate in spaced parallel relation to engage a portion of a component supported thereby,

said first and second loop means constructed and arranged to be tightly secured about said component to provide a first assembly,

a support surface,

and means attaching said first assembly to said support surface.

2. The rack of claim 1 wherein the means attaching the first assembly to the support surface includes a bracket which is fixed to the support surface, with said bracket and the support plate having complementary configurations wherein the support plate is telescopically engaged with said bracket.

3. The rack of claim 1 wherein the means attaching the first assembly to the support surface includes a bracket having a stationary portion fixed to the support surface, and a movable portion which is slidably engaged with the stationary portion, with the first assembly being removably attached to said movable portion.

4. The rack of claim 1 wherein the right angle means each include a discrete right angle member, the means attaching the first assembly to the support surface includes a bracket having an inverted U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, including a bight and first and second depending, inwardly flanged legs, and the support plate has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, including a bight and first and second upstanding, outwardly flanged legs, with the upstanding legs having openings through which the belts and predetermined leg portions of the discrete right angle members are disposed.

5. The rack of claim 4 wherein the inwardly flanged legs of the bracket define support pockets within which portions of the outwardly flanged legs of the support plate slidably extend.

6. The rack of claim 1 wherein the first leg portions of the right angle means are integral portions of the support plate, and the second leg portions of the right angle means include discrete leg portions which depend from and are removably supported by the support plate.

7. The rack of claim 1 including resilient means disposed between the support plate and a component to be suspended.