IP Library Granted Patent US 12,224,541
Granted Patent B2
US 12,224,541 · App. 17/303,789 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Structure for fastening verification

Inventors: Baaba Kyerewaa Forster-Forson (Woolwich Township, NJ); Vivian Zhang Di Tore (Poughkeepsie, NY); Rasit Onur Topaloglu (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H01R4/36F16B2200/93F16B2200/95Y10T403/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,224,541
App. No.
17/303,789
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for a fastening verification structure includes a fastener disposed in a cavity, where a leading end of the fastener is configured to press a non-insulated contact pad. The first end of a first lead electrically coupled to the fastener and a second end of the first lead electrically coupled to a power source. The first end of a second lead electrically coupled to the non-insulated contact pad and a second end of the second lead electrically coupled to a visual indicator. The first end of a third lead electrically coupled to the visual indicator and a second end of the third lead electrically coupled to the power source.

Claims (24)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a fastener disposed in a cavity of a lockdown plate, wherein a leading end of the fastener is directly pressed into a non-insulated contact pad positioned in the cavity of the lockdown plate which secures a rack enclosure to a floor;

a first end of a first lead electrically coupled to the fastener and a second end of the first lead electrically coupled to a power source;

a first end of a second lead electrically coupled to the non-insulated contact pad and a second end of the second lead electrically coupled to a visual indicator; and

a first end of a third lead electrically coupled to the visual indicator and a second end of the third lead electrically coupled to the power source, wherein the visual indicator is configured to activate when the leading end of the fastener contacts the non-insulated contact pad, thereby providing indication that the rack enclosure is securely mounted to the lockdown plate in the floor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a washer disposed on a spacer and the spacer disposed on a base of the rack enclosure, wherein the fastener is disposed in an aperture along a central axis for each of the washer, the spacer, and the base of the rack enclosure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

a jam nut disposed on a leveler and the leveler disposed on the lockdown plate, wherein the fastener is disposed in another aperture along the central axis for each of the jam nut, the leveler, and the lockdown plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator is an LED.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator is an electronic display.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a fastener disposed in a cavity of a lockdown plate, wherein a leading end of the fastener is pressed into an upper portion of an upper insulated wire positioned in the cavity of the lockdown plate which secures a rack enclosure to a floor;

a first end of a first lead electrically coupled to a lower portion of the upper insulated wire and a second end of the first lead electrically coupled to a power source;

a first end of a second lead electrically coupled to an upper portion of a lower insulated wire and a second end of the second lead electrically coupled to a visual indicator; and

a first end of a third lead electrically coupled to the power source and a second end of the third lead electrically coupled to the visual indicator, wherein the visual indicator is configured to activate when the leading end of the fastener contacts the upper portion of the upper insulated wire and the lower portion of the upper insulated wire is pressed into the upper portion of the lower insulated wire, thereby providing indication that the rack enclosure is securely mounted to the lockdown plate in the floor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the visual indicator is an LED.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the visual indicator is an electronic display.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first end of the first lead includes a spring-loaded arm that is configured to hover the upper insulated wire above a lower non-insulated contact pad that is electrically coupled the upper portion of the lower insulated wire.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the spring-loaded arm is configured to compress as the leading end of the fastener contacts the upper portion of the upper insulated wire.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a washer disposed on a spacer and the spacer disposed on a base of the rack enclosure, wherein the fastener is disposed in an aperture along a central axis for each of the washer, the spacer, and the base of the rack enclosure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a jam nut disposed on a leveler and the leveler disposed on the lockdown plate, wherein the fastener is disposed in another aperture along the central axis for each of the jam nut, the leveler, and the lockdown plate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: FORSTER-FORSON, BAABA KYEREWAA; DI TORE, VIVIAN ZHANG; TOPALOGLU, RASIT ONUR
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056463/0378 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220389946A1 · Dec 8, 2022
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