Adjustable interlocking system for computer peripheral and other desktop enclosures

• US 5,992,953 A
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Josef Rabinovitz
• Original Assignee: Josef Rabinovitz
• Inventors: Rabinovitz, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US08/911,384
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 312/107, 312/108, 312/111, 439/353, 439/357, 439/358, 439/701, 439/717, 361/683, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 403/329, 403/326, 403/388
• US Class Current: 312/111
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/02 stackable ; stackable and linkable by means of separate corner elements being in common with both the vertical and horizontal parts, e.g. corner bars for panels, nodes for rods A47B47/0016, A47B47/0025
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/18 Packaging or power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0021 Side-by-side or stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/606 Leaf spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7123 Traversed by connector

Abstract

First and second L-shaped brackets are secured to first and second computer peripheral units. The upright back portions of both of the brackets have holes or openings in them. With the first unit stacked on the second and their respective brackets aligned, a first male member of a connector device is snap fit in a hole in one of the brackets and a second male member of that device is snap fit in a hole in the other bracket. The two brackets and connector device form a connector assembly, which with (three) other similar assemblies, hold the stacked unit together. Bottom members, top cap members and/or center members can be snap fit onto the brackets to provide flexibility in use and to provide a smooth attractive outer appearance. According to one preferred embodiment, the assemblies can be disassembled without tools. The brackets, connector device, and the other members can be sold as a kit together with differently-sized brackets to accommodate different sizes (heights) of units.

Claims

1. An interlocking assembly, comprising:

a first L-shaped device having generally perpendicular first back and foot portions, said first device being adapted to attach to a first unit with said first foot portion substantially along a bottom of the first unit and said first back portion substantially along a side or end of the first unit, said first back portion having a first opening;

a second L-shaped device having generally perpendicular second back and foot portions, said second device being adapted to attach to a second unit with said second foot portion substantially along a bottom of the second unit and said second back portion substantially along a side or end of the second unit, said second portion having a second opening; and

an interlocking device having a body portion, first locking means for insertion into said first opening and snap-fit locking said body portion to said first back portion, and second locking means for insertion into said second opening and snap-fit locking said body portion to said second back portion.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said body portion comprises an interlocking bar, said first locking means comprises a first post extending perpendicularly from said interlocking bar for insertion into said first opening, and said second locking means comprises a second post spaced from said first post and extending perpendicularly from said interlocking bar for insertion into said second opening.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said interlocking device is adapted to interlock the first unit on top of the second unit.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said first opening defines a lower opening, said first back portion includes an upper opening spaced above said lower opening, and said first back portion includes a top end, and further comprising a top cap device having a top cap member and a top cap post adapted to fit in said upper opening and thereby position said top cap member above and generally on said top end.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said top cap device includes a connector bar to which said top cap member and said top cap post are secured.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said first back portion has a vertical slot extending the length of a forward face thereof, a portion of said interlocking bar being disposed in said slot when said first post is fit in said lower opening and said connector bar being disposed in said slot when said connector post is in said upper opening.

7. The assembly of claim 6 further comprising a center bar which fits into said slot between said interlocking bar and said connector bar.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said first back portion has a center bar hole, and said center bar has a center bar post which fits into said center bar hole.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said upper hole, said center bar hole and said lower hole are disposed in said slot.

10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein outer surfaces of said connector bar, said center bar and said top cap bar when in said slot are generally flush and conforming with adjacent outer surfaces of said first back portion.

11. The assembly of claim 7 further comprising a bottom bar attachable to said second L-shaped device below said interlocking device.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said bottom bar includes a bottom bar post which fits into a lower opening of said second L-shaped device.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said second back portion has a vertical slot extending the length of a forward face thereof, a lower portion of said interlocking bar and said bottom bar being disposed in said vertical slot.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said second opening defines an upper opening, said second back portion has a lower opening, said interlocking device defines a first interlocking device, and said body portion defines a first body portion;

and further comprising a third L-shaped device adapted to attach to a third unit and having a third opening, and a second interlocking device having a second body portion, third locking means for insertion into said lower opening and snap fit locking said second body portion to said second L-shaped device and fourth locking means for insertion into said third opening and snap fit locking said second body portion to said third L-shaped bracket.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said first and second interlocking devices are adapted to interlock the first, second and third units, stacked one on top of the other.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said second body portion comprise a second interlocking bar, and said third and fourth locking means comprise third and fourth posts spaced from one another and extending out from said second interlocking bar.

17. An interlocking kit, comprising:

a first L-shaped bracket having generally perpendicular first back and foot portions, said first back portion having a front longitudinal first slot and a first opening in said first slot;

a second L-shaped bracket having generally perpendicular second back and foot portions, said second back portion having a front longitudinal second slot and a second opening in said second slot; and

a connector member having a connector bar, a first connector post extending generally perpendicularly out from said connector bar and a second connector post extending generally perpendicularly out from said connector bar and spaced from said first connector post and generally perpendicular thereto;

said connector member is positionable in an interconnecting position relative to said first and second L-shaped brackets with said first connector post snap fit into said first opening and a first portion of said connector bar in said first slot and said second connector post fit into said second opening and a second portion of said connector bar in said second slot;

wherein with said first L-shaped bracket secured in position to a first unit, said second L-shaped bracket secured in position to a second unit and said connector member in the interconnecting position, the first and second units are interconnected stacked one on top of the other.

18. The kit of claim 17 further comprising a package for holding said first and second L-shaped brackets and said connector member.

19. The kit of claim 17 wherein said second L-shaped member has a third opening in said second slot, and further comprising a center member having a center bar and a center bar post extending perpendicularly out from said center member, said center bar being securable in said second slot with said center bar post in said third opening.

20. The kit of claim 17 wherein said first L-shaped member has a third opening in said first slot and a top end, and further comprising a top cap member having a top cap bar, a top cap element generally on top of said top cap bar and a top cap post extending perpendicular out from said top cap bar, wherein with said top cap bar secured in said first slot with said top cap post in said third opening, said top cap element is disposed generally on top of said end.

21. An interlocking assembly, comprising:

a first L-shaped device having generally perpendicular first back and foot portions;

a second L-shaped device having generally perpendicular second back and foot portions; and

an interlocking device having a first lock portion which is locked to said first L-shaped device and a second lock portion which is locked to said second L-shaped device and thereby interlock said first and second L-shaped devices in an interlocked position.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said first lock portion includes a first snap-fit lock device and said second lock portion comprises a second snap-fit lock device.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said first L-shaped device includes a first opening, said second L-shaped device includes a second opening, and when said first and second L-shaped devices are in the interlocked position, said first snap-fit lock device is locked into said first opening and said second snap-fit lock device is locked into said second opening.

24. An interlocking assembly, comprising:

a first L-shaped bracket having generally perpendicular first back and foot portions, said first back portion having a first opening;

a second L-shaped bracket having generally perpendicular second back and foot portions, said second back portion having a second opening; and

a connector member having a body member and first and second male members attached to said body member, said first male member being fitted into said first opening and said second male member being fitted into said second opening.

25. The assembly of claim 24 wherein said first male member extends perpendicular relative to said body portion, said first opening extends laterally relative to said first back portion, said first back portion includes a longitudinal slot, said first opening is disposed in said slot, and a portion of said body portion is fitted in said slot.

26. The assembly of claim 24 further comprising a top cap member fitted on top of said first L-shaped bracket and a bottom member fitted on a lower end of said L-shaped bracket.