Server rack blanking panel and system

• US 7,944,699 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CompuSpace L.C.
• Original Assignee: CompuSpace L.C.
• Inventors: Taylor, Laurie
• Primary Examiner(s): LEA EDMONDS, LISA S
• Application Number:
  US12/849,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20100314338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 361/724
• US Class Current: 361/724
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1488 Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures

Abstract

The present invention provides a system that allows for a single panel of the invention to be easily modified, preferably without the use of tools, to fit on a server rack, where the single panel is so modified as to cover the desired amount of open space on a server rack as a single piece, where the panel is preferably fire-rated, and where the modified panel may be easily installed onto the server rack to as to cover any open space thereon, and prevents the circular flow of warm air output from entering the cooler air input of the servers housed on the server rack.

Claims

1. A server rack blanking panel comprising a panel, wherein the panel comprises scoring on a surface of the panel, the scoring comprising horizontal scoring such that the panel is divided into separable pieces, each piece being n U in height, wherein each n is a whole integer, and wherein the panel consists of y pieces, wherein y is a whole integer.

2. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein the scoring further comprises scoring on both of the opposite horizontal ends of each piece of the panel in the form of at least one aperture scoring.

3. The server rack blanking panel of claim 2, wherein the aperture scoring is a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle;

an ellipse;

a rectangle;

a ‘

T’

shape;

a ‘

U’

shape;

a rounded ‘

T’

shape; and

, a rounded rectangle shape.

4. The server rack blanking panel of claim 2, wherein one aperture scoring is present on each opposite horizontal end of each piece, and the aperture scoring is uniform on each piece throughout the panel, and wherein the aperture scoring is present substantially halfway up each piece vertically.

5. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein the panel is comprised of a fire-retardant material.

6. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein the panel consists essentially of a material is selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene;

chlorinated polyvinyl chloride;

chlorinated polyvinylidine chloride;

polyphenylene oxide-styrene;

plexiglass;

high-density polyethylene; and

a polypropylene compound.

7. The server rack blanking panel of claim 4, wherein the aperture scoring is in the form of a rounded rectangle shaped scoring aperture, and wherein one aperture is present on each end of each piece, and wherein each aperture is located substantially in the center of the respective vertical edges of the piece.

8. The server rack blanking panel of claim 7, wherein each aperture is between about 0.350 to about 0.500 inches high and between about 0.200 to about 0.375 inches wide.

9. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein the panel is between about 18.75 inches to about 19.50 inches wide.

10. The server rack blanking panel of claim 9, wherein the panel is between about 19.00 inches to about 19.25 inches wide.

11. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein each piece is exactly one U in height.

12. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein each piece is exactly two U in height.

13. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein the pieces are not uniform in height throughout the panel and the height of any individual piece is n U in height, wherein each n is a whole integer.

14. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein each piece comprises two, four, or six aperture scorings thereon.

15. The server rack blanking panel of claim 1, wherein each piece comprises two aperture scorings thereon.

16. A server rack blanking panel comprising a panel, wherein the panel comprises scoring on a surface of the panel, the scoring comprising horizontal scoring such that the panel is divided into separable pieces, each piece being n U in height, wherein each n is a whole integer, and wherein the panel consists of y pieces, wherein y is a whole integer, and wherein the scoring further comprises scoring on both of the opposite horizontal ends of each piece of the panel in the form of at least one aperture scoring.

17. The server rack blanking panel of claim 16, wherein each piece comprises two aperture scorings thereon.

18. The server rack blanking panel of claim 17, wherein each piece is exactly one U in height.

19. The server rack blanking panel of claim 17, wherein the aperture scoring is a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle;

an ellipse;

a rectangle;

a ‘

T’

shape;

a ‘

U’

shape;

a rounded ‘

T’

shape; and

, a rounded rectangle shape.

20. The server rack blanking panel of claim 17, wherein the each aperture scoring is a rounded rectangle shape.