IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,755,189
Granted Patent B2
US 8,755,189 · App. 13/410,648 · Granted Jun 17, 2014

System and method for a convertible tower-to-rack enclosure

Inventors: Richard A. Crisp (Austin, TX); Austin J. Orand (Portland, OR); Paul D. Kramer (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,755,189
App. No.
13/410,648
Filed
Mar 2, 2012
Granted
Jun 17, 2014
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2846
USPC
361/726
Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, an information handling system comprises an information handling resource and a chassis. The chassis includes a slot configured to receive the information handling resource. The chassis also includes a first rack ear and a second rack ear, each configured to facilitate removal of the information handling system from a server rack system. The first rack ear and second rack ear are further configured to interface with a first cover configured for placement on a first side of the chassis and a second cover configured for placement on a second side of the chassis, respectively. The first cover acts as the top of the information handling system and the second cover acts as the bottom of the information handling system when the information handling system is in the tower configuration.

Claims (44)

1. An information handling system comprising:

an information handling resource; and

a chassis including:

a slot configured to receive the information handling resource;

a first rack ear configured to:

facilitate removal of the information handling system from a server rack system when the information handling system is in a rack configuration; and

interface with a first cover configured for placement on a first side of the chassis, the first cover acting as the top of the information handling system when the information handling system is in a tower configuration; and

a second rack ear configured to:

facilitate removal of the information handling system from the server rack system when the information handling system is in the rack configuration; and

interface with a second cover configured for placement on a second side of the chassis, the second cover acting as the bottom of the information handling system and configured to support the information handling system when the information handling system is in the tower configuration.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , the first rack ear comprising a display configured to display an image and rotate the image according to an orientation of the information handling system.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , the first rack ear comprising a control panel configured to allow uniform control operations when the information handling system is in the tower configuration and the rack configuration.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , the second cover comprising one or more feet.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , the first side and second side each comprising a first rail ridge and a second rail ridge, respectively, the first rail ridge and the second rail ridge configured to support the information handling system on a rail associated with the server rack system.

6. The information handling system of claim 5 , the first cover configured to cover the first rail ridge and the second cover configured to cover the second rail ridge.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising a security cover configured to be detachably locked to the chassis and interface with the first rack ear and the second rack ear to restrict access to the information handling resource.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 , the chassis including a securing mechanism configured to secure the information handling system to the server rack system and the first rack ear including a releasing mechanism configured to release the securing mechanism to allow removal of the information handling system from the server rack system.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 , further comprising a security cover configured to be detachably locked to the chassis and interface with the first rack ear and the second rack ear to restrict access to the releasing mechanism and the information handling resource.

10. A chassis associated with an information handling system comprising:

a slot configured to receive an information handling resource;

a first rack ear configured to:

facilitate removal of the information handling system from a server rack system when the information handling system is in a rack configuration; and

interface with a first cover configured for placement on a first side of the chassis, the first cover acting as the top of the information handling system when the information handling system is in a tower configuration; and

a second rack ear configured to:

facilitate removal of the information handling system from the server rack system when the information handling system is in the rack configuration; and

interface with a second cover configured for placement on a second side of the chassis, the second cover acting as the bottom of the information handling system and configured to support the information handling system when the information handling system is in the tower configuration.

11. The chassis of claim 10 , the first rack ear comprising a display configured to display an image and rotate the image according to an orientation of the information handling system.

12. The chassis of claim 10 , the first rack ear comprising a control panel configured to allow uniform control operations when the information handling system is in the tower configuration and the rack configuration.

13. The chassis of claim 10 , the second cover comprising one or more feet.

14. The chassis of claim 10 , the first side and second side each comprising a first rail ridge and a second rail ridge, respectively, the first rail ridge and the second rail ridge configured to support the information handling system on a rail associated with the server rack system.

15. The chassis of claim 14 , the first cover configured to cover the first rail ridge and the second cover configured to cover the second rail ridge.

16. The chassis of claim 9 , further comprising a security cover configured to be detachably locked to the chassis and interface with the first rack ear and the second rack ear to restrict access to the information handling resource.

17. The chassis of claim 9 , the chassis including a securing mechanism configured to secure the information handling system to the server rack system and the first rack ear including a releasing mechanism configured to release the securing mechanism to allow removal of the information handling system from the server rack system.

18. The chassis of claim 17 , further comprising a security cover configured to be detachably locked to the chassis and interface with the first rack ear and the second rack ear to restrict access to the releasing mechanism and the information handling resource.

19. A method for configuring a chassis of an information handling system comprising:

configuring a first rack ear of the chassis such that the first rack ear:

facilitates removal of the information handling system from a server rack system when the information handling system is in a rack configuration; and

interfaces with a first cover configured for placement on a first side of the chassis, the first cover acting as the top of the information handling system when the information handling system is in a tower configuration; and

configuring a second rack ear of the chassis such that the second rack ear:

facilitates removal of the information handling system from the server rack system when the information handling system is in the rack configuration; and

interfaces with a second cover configured for placement on a second side of the chassis, the second cover acting as the bottom of the information handling system and configured to support the information handling system when the information handling system is in the tower configuration.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

configuring the chassis to secure the information handling system to the server rack system; and

configuring the first rack ear to release the securing mechanism to allow removal of the information handling system from the server rack system.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2012
From: CRISP, RICHARD A.; ORAND, AUSTIN J.; KRAMER, PAUL D.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 027797/0111 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130229775A1 · Sep 5, 2013