Modular Equipment Enclosure

1 . A modular enclosure system comprising a first cabinet module and a second cabinet modules, each cabinet module having an interior volume, an access door, and at least one interconnection port providing access to the interior volume from the exterior of the cabinet module;

and at least one interconnection flange for releasably connecting to the first and second cabinet modules adjacent to the interconnection ports thereof.

2 . The modular enclosure system of claim 1 wherein the interconnection flange comprises a wall member having an interior and an exterior surface, and first and second end flanges disposed adjacent to the edges of the wall member and extending substantially perpendicular from the exterior surface of the wall member.

3 . The module enclosure system of claim 2 wherein a plurality of holes are provided in the first and second end flanges of the interconnection flange for receiving bolts, screws or clips for releasably attaching each end flange to one of the plurality of cabinet modules.

4 . The module enclosure system of claim 3 wherein the first and second end flanges of the interconnection flange are provided with seals for providing a weather-resistant connection between the interconnection flange and the exterior surface of the cabinet module.

5 . The module enclosure system of claim 2 wherein the interconnection flange comprises four substantially rectangular side members joined along opposing edges to form an open-top and open-bottom box, and a first and second flange member attached to the top and bottom edges of the side members and extending perpendicularly outward therefrom.

6 . A method for providing a modular equipment enclosure comprising the steps of:

providing a first cabinet module with an interconnection port;

releasably attaching an interconnection flange to the first cabinet module adjacent to the interconnection port;

providing a second cabinet module with an interconnection port;

releasably attaching the interconnection flange to the second cabinet module adjacent to the interconnection port.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the step of providing a first cabinet module with an interconnection port further comprises the steps of:

installing a first cabinet module at a desired location;

installing equipment into the first cabinet module.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the step of releasably attaching an interconnection flange to the first cabinet module further comprises the steps of:

removing a port cover from an interconnection port on the first cabinet module;

positioning the interconnection flange with a first end flange of the interconnection flange against the first cabinet module adjacent to the interconnection port;

releasably attaching the interconnection flange to the first cabinet module with bolts, screws or clips.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the step of providing a second cabinet module further comprises the steps of:

installing a second cabinet module with the interconnection port thereof disposed adjacent to the interconnection flange;

installing equipment into the second cabinet module.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the step of releasably attaching an inconnection flange to the second cabinet module further comprises the steps of:

removing a port cover from an interconnection port on the second cabinet module;

positioning the interconnection flange with a second end flange of the interconnection flange against the second cabinet module adjacent to the interconnection port;

releasably attaching the interconnection flange to the second cabinet module with bolts, screws or clips.

11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a second cabinet module further comprises the step of connecting the equipment in the second cabinet module to the equipment in the first cabinet module.

12 . A modular equipment enclosure comprising a first cabinet module, a second cabinet module and an interconnection flange with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the interconnection flange is releaseably connected to an interconnection port in the first cabinet module, and the second end of the interconnection flange is releaseably connected to an interconnection port in the second cabinet module.

13 . The modular equipment enclosure of claim 12 wherein the interconnection flange comprises a wall member extending from the first end of the interconnection flange to the second end of the interconnection flange; and a first end flange connected to the wall member at the first end of the interconnection flange; and a second end flange connected to the wall member at the second end of the interconnection flange.

14 . The modular equipment enclosure of claim 13 wherein the first end flange and the second end flange are attached to the first and second cabinets with bolts, screws, clips, or rivets.

15 . The modular equipment enclosure of claim 14 wherein the first end flange and the second end flange are provided with weather-resistant seals.

16 . The modular equipment enclosure of claim 15 wherein the first and second cabinets comprise an enclosure with four side walls, a top member and a bottom member; wherein a first side wall has a door for accessing the inside of the enclosure; and whereas at least one side wall has an interconnection port with a removable cover.

17 . The modular equipment enclosure of claim 16 wherein the inside of each cabinet may be accessed from the other cabinet through the interconnection port.