Universal toolless rack mount bracket
View Patent ↗A bracket for connecting a slide assembly to a rack having any one of multiple hole standards. The bracket includes a first portion defining a first surface that contacts the rack and a second portion that defines a second surface that contacts the rack. The first portion and the second portion cooperate to capture a portion of the rack therebetween. The bracket further includes a first projection sized and shaped to engage a first rack hole standard and a second projection sized and shaped to engage a second rack hole standard. The bracket may also include additional projections configured to engage additional hole standards.
1. A bracket for connecting a slide assembly to a frame member having a plurality of openings, the bracket comprising:
a first portion defining a first surface that is configured to contact the frame member, the first portion being connected to a slide assembly; and
a second portion defining a second surface that is configured to contact the frame member, said second portion being slidable in a length direction of the bracket relative to said first portion to change a distance between the first and second surfaces;
wherein said first portion and said second portion cooperate to capture a section of the frame member therebetween; and
wherein the bracket further comprises:
a first projection generally extending between the first surface and the second surface, the first projection adapted to engage a first rack hole standard; and
a second projection that is separate from the first projection and offset from the first projection in a height direction of the bracket, the second projection extending between the first surface and the second surface, the second projection adapted to engage at least a second rack hole standard.
2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first projection is carried by the first portion and the second projection is carried by the second portion.
3. The bracket of claim 2 , wherein the first projection defines a cavity configured to receive the second projection.
4. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first projection and the second projection are both carried by the first portion.
5. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first projection comprises a square projection portion and a cylindrical projection portion extending from the square projection portion.
6. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of said bracket includes a first section movable relative to a second section, and the first projection is carried by the first section and the second projection is carried by the second section thereby permitting the first projection to be moved relative to the second projection.
7. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are urged toward a closed position relative to one another using at least one biasing member.
8. The bracket of claim 7 , further comprising a latch that secures the first and second portions in the closed position.
9. The bracket of claim 7 , further comprising an engagement mechanism that is configured to generally maintain the first portion and the second portion in a closed position.
10. The bracket of claim 1 , further comprising a third projection and a fourth projection, wherein the first, second, third and fourth projections permit the bracket to be engage with a rack according to any of a square hole, an M6 tapped hole, a 0.25 diameter hole, a 0.281 diameter hole, and a #10 tapped hole standard.
11. A bracket for connecting a slide assembly to a rack having any one of multiple hole standards, the bracket comprising:
a first portion; and
a second portion, wherein said first portion and said second portion cooperate to capture a portion of the rack therebetween;
said second portion further comprising:
a first section; and
a second section movable relative to the first section between at least a first position and a second position;
a first set of projections and a second set of projections, wherein the first set of projections are carried by the first section and the second set of projections are carried by the second section;
wherein said bracket accommodates a first rack hole standard when said first section is in said first position and said bracket accommodates a second rack hole standard when said first section is in said second position.
12. The bracket of claim 11 , further comprising a selector knob that permits said second section to be moved between said first and second positions in order to select between the first rack hole standard and the second rack hole standard.
13. The bracket of claim 11 , wherein the second portion is configured to be slidably movable relative to the first portion in a length direction of the bracket.
14. The bracket of claim 13 , further comprising a biasing member configured to impart a biasing force that acts to urge the first portion in a closed position with the second portion, so as to generally capture the rack between the first and second portions.
15. The bracket of claim 14 , further comprising an engagement mechanism configured to selectively retain a desired spacing between the first portion and the second portion.
16. The bracket of claim 15 , wherein the first portion is configured to be released relative to the second portion by moving a depressible member of the engagement mechanism against a resilient force.
17. A method of securing a slide assembly to a frame member, comprising:
providing a bracket member, said bracket member comprising:
a first portion comprising a flange; and
a second portion comprising a head, wherein the flange of said first portion and the head of said second portion cooperate to capture a portion of the frame member therebetween;
wherein said bracket is configured to accommodate a first hole standard of the frame member when the head of said second portion is in a first position, and wherein said bracket is configured to accommodate a second hole standard of the frame member when the head of said second portion is in a second position; and
wherein the head of said second portion is movable between the first position and the second position using a selector member;
moving the selector member to one of a first and second position to thereby move the head to an appropriate one of the first and second positions depending on a hole standard of the frame member;
aligning the bracket along a desired location of the frame member; and
capturing the frame member between the flange and the head by moving the first portion relative to the second portion.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising moving the second portion relative to the first portion to increase a spacing between the flange of said first portion and the head of said second portion; wherein said relative movement of the first portion and the second portion permits the frame member to be positioned between the first and second portions.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the bracket further comprises an engagement mechanism, the engagement mechanism being configured to generally prevent movement between the first portion and the second portion in at least a first direction to help ensure that the bracket member remains securely fastened to the frame member.