Electronics rack cover systems

• US 7,784,738 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sednal Consulting Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sednal Consulting Services, LLC
• Inventors: L'esperance, Victor D., Landes, Mark J., Landes, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US11/088,128
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 244/224, 244/129.4, 361/268, 361/269, 361/679.57, 361/679.58, 361/726, 361/732, 361/747, 361/616, 180/90, 296/70, 296/72, 296/73
• US Class Current: 244/129.4
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/18 Construction of rack or frame

Abstract

A security cover is disclosed for protecting installed avionics instruments and other electronic instruments. The cover includes multiple independent automatic locks that activate when the cover is abutted near the installed instruments. An automatic lock mechanism, adapted to electronic instrument covers, is also disclosed. The activated locks are not directly accessible to users and thieves. A lock release mechanism is disclosed for simultaneously unlocking each lock. A method of manufacturing using extruded aluminum panels is disclosed.

Claims

1. An avionics rack cover system, relating to obstructing unauthorized access to at least one front face of at least one avionics rack operable to receive at least one avionics instrument installable proximate the at least one avionics rack, comprising:

a) at least one cover adapted to cover the at least one front face;

b) at least one receiver structured and arranged to receive said at least one cover;

c) wherein said at least one receiver comprises

i) at least one receptor structured and arranged to be receptive to at least one portion of said at least one cover, and

ii) at least one support structured and arranged to support said at least one receptor substantially behind the at least one front face and proximate the at least one avionics rack; and

d) at least one automatic lock structured and arranged to automatically lock said at least one cover to said at least one receiver responsive to said at least one receiver receiving said at least one cover.

2. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 1, wherein said automatic lock comprises:

a) at least one engager structured and arranged to engage said at least one receptor;

b) at least one engager biasing mechanism adapted to bias said at least one engager toward engagement with said at least one receptor; and

c) at least one initiator structured and arranged to initiate engagement of said at least one engager with said at least one receptor responsive to said at least one engager biasing mechanism after insertion of said at least one engager within said at least one receptor.

3. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one initiator comprises at least one initiator biasing mechanism adapted to bias said at least one initiator away from initiating engagement with said at least one receptor.

4. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 2, wherein said automatic lock further comprises:

a) at least one resistor adapted to resist said at least one engager biasing mechanism; and

b) at least one remover structured and arranged to remove said at least one resistor from resisting said at least one engager biasing mechanism responsive to said at least one initiator.

5. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one remover comprises at least one rotor adapted to rotate responsive to said at least one initiator to remove said at least one resistor.

6. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cover comprises at least one panel structured and arranged to panel over the at least one front face.

7. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 6, wherein said at least one panel comprises:

a) at least one extruded shape structured and arranged to provide an extruded shape for said at least one panel; and

b) at least one open end adapted to provide at least one closable open end of said at least one panel.

8. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one cover further comprises at least one end closure structured and arranged to close said at least one open end of said at least one panel.

9. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one end closure comprises said at least one automatic lock.

10. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one panel comprises at least one unlocker structured and arranged to unlock said at least one automatic lock.

11. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one unlocker structured and arranged to unlock said at least one cover after engagement of said at least one engager with said at least one receptor.

12. The avionics rack cover system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one drill-resistant plate abutted inside said at least one cover.

13. An avionics rack cover system, relating to obstructing unauthorized access to at least one front face of at least one avionics rack operable to receive at least one avionics instrument installable proximate the at least one avionics rack, comprising:

a) at least one cover structured and arranged to at least partially cover the at least one front face; and

b) at least one automatic lock structured and arranged to automatically lock said at least one cover to the at least one avionics rack responsive to said at least one cover being placed in aligned abutment with the at least one avionics rack.

14. An avionics rack cover system, relating to obstructing unauthorized access to at least one front face of at least one avionics instrument installed in at least one avionics rack in an aircraft, comprising:

a) at least one substantially rigid cover having one open face;

at least one automatic lock fixed to said at least one substantially rigid cover; and

b) at least one lock release mechanism attached to said at least one substantially rigid cover, accessible to at least one user, and operable to release said at least one automatic lock;

c) wherein said at least one automatic lock is adapted to lock proximate to the at least one avionics rack; and

d) wherein said at least one automatic lock is not directly accessible to such at least one user when locked.

15. A cover system, relating to obstructing unauthorized access to at least one front portion of at least one instrument panel having at least one instrument installable proximate the at least one instrument panel, comprising:

a) at least one cover structured and arranged to at least partially cover the front portion of the at least one instrument panel; and

b) at least one receiver structured and arranged to receive such at least one cover;

c) wherein such at least one receiver comprises at least one positioner structured and arranged to position such at least one receiver in relation to the at least one instrument panel to receive at least one portion of said at least one cover at least one position substantially behind the at least one instrument panel;

d) at least one automatic lock structured and arranged to lock said at least one cover to said at least one receiver responsive to said at least one receiver receiving said at least one cover.

16. The cover system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a) at least one manual unlocker structured and arranged to manually unlock said at least one automatic lock;

b) wherein said at least one manual unlocker is mechanically distinct from said at least one automatic lock.

17. The cover system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one cover comprises at least one panel adapted to at least partially panel over the front portion of the at least one instrument panel.

18. The cover system according to claim 17, wherein said at least one panel comprises:

a) at least one extruded shape adapted to provide shape to said at least one panel; and

b) at least one open end adapted to provide at least one open end of said at least one extruded shape.

19. The cover system according to claim 18, further comprising at least one end closure structured and arranged to close said at least one open end of said at least one extruded shape.

20. The cover system according to claim 19, wherein said at least one cover further comprises at least one partition structured and arranged to partition at least one channel.

21. The cover system according to claim 19 wherein said at least one end closure comprises said at least one automatic lock.

22. The cover system according to claim 15, further comprising at least one drill-resistant plate, structured and arranged to resist drilling through said at least one cover, abutted inside said at least one cover.